By Mollee Francisco

Correspondent

 The Chaska Planning Commission Wednesday night got its first look at a proposed development that would include an emergency room. If built, it would be the state’s first free-standing emergency department.

According to Chaska City Administrator David Pokorney, the Planning Commission approved the development. It will move on to the Chaska City Council for consideration on Feb. 25.

The Aurora Plaza development, as proposed by Aurora Investments and Mount Development Company, would include a drug store, a bank, a retail building and a three-store medical office building with an emergency room.

The 15.69-acre site would be highly visible, located on the east side of Highway 41 between new Highway 212 and Hundertmark Road. Access to the site would be from Hundertmark Road as well as a possible entrance-only road for northbound traffic on Highway 41.

Ridgeview Medical Center would occupy the medical office building.

"It is a big deal," said Pokorney. "This is a significant commitment Ridgeview is making."

“Ridgeview is a well-respected Minnesota medical institution that brings with it the ‘regional draw and significance’ for which this site is screaming,” the staff report stated.

Plans call for an emergency room on the west side of the building.

According to a memo from Ridgeview Medical Center President Bob Stevens, the emergency department would be identical to the main campus in Waconia. It would be capable of receiving walk-in patients as well as patients arriving via ambulance or helicopter. A helipad is also included in the plans.

"You wouldn't come here and get transferred to Waconia," said Pokorney. "The quality of emergency care — there won't be a place in the state better than Chaska."

The rest of the proposed medical facility would contain a day-surgery area and an imaging center as well as additional medical offices for primary and specialty care services.

"It will be as close to a hospital as you can get," said Pokorney.

According to the staff report, Ridgeview would anticipate eventually expanding from three floors to six floors with an additional parking ramp.

 The total square footage at ultimate build-out would be more than 200,000 square feet for the medical center alone. But Pokorney said that may not be all Ridgeview has plans for, hinting that there may be interesting partnership opportunities for the facility.

What neighbors will think of the development remains to be seen. Pokorney acknowledged that while he doesn't believe ambulances will create any more of a disturbance than usual, helicopters may be another story.

The staff report states that the developer will be responsible for screening parking lot lighting and parking areas from adjacent residential developments.

 Staff has suggested the developer use the model established by SuperTarget with the homes on Luisa Court. The nearest homes will be more than 500 feet from the development and are separated by a wooded ravine.

According to the staff report, the developer will be meeting with neighborhood residents to discuss the project.