EASTON — Stakeholders in the creation of UM Shore Regional Health’s new regional medical center came together Monday to hear from attorneys regarding possible upcoming amendments to the development rights and responsibilities agreement.
The 65-page agreement, which was signed in 2014, ensures that zoning will not change for the land that Shore Regional intends to build a new hospital on. Specifically, the agreement — which was negotiated by the town, the county and UM Shore Regional Health — vests Shore Regional in Easton’s Regional Healthcare zoning district.
The regional medical center is planned to be built off Longwoods Road in Easton. In January, the Maryland Health Care Commission approved the hospital system’s certificate of need application.
According to previous Star Democrat reporting, construction on the medical center is anticipated to begin in spring 2025, with doors tentatively opening in summer 2028.
At the workshop Monday, Easton Town Attorney Sharon VanEmburgh explained why amendments to the decade-old agreement are needed and gave an update on what stakeholders can expect.
VanEmburgh, UM Shore Regional Health Attorney Ryan Showalter and County Attorney Patrick Thomas are hopeful that they will have drafted amendments to the agreement ready in the next several weeks.
VanEmburgh said that once drafted, the proposed amendments will need to go to the town and county planning commissions for approval. From there, the town and county councils would need to hold public hearings, then vote on resolutions for the amendments.
Showalter said they wanted to bring the different stakeholders, including representatives from the county and town governments, together Monday night to make sure everyone heard the same information.
“We thought, at least to kick this off, it would be good to provide everyone with a basic understanding of where we are and where we’re going,” he said.
When it comes to possible changes to the Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement, VanEmburgh said the construction world is different than it was 10 years ago.
“Supply chain issues, construction time frames were all very different,” she said, “so that necessitates some changes.”
Along with construction, VanEmburgh said certain dates listed in the agreement no longer make sense and aren’t realistic in today’s climate. She also said the hospital’s needs and their utility requirements have changed since the agreement was signed.
“So we anticipate having an amendment to the DRRA that will address some of those issues,” she said.
VanEmburgh said some “housekeeping amendments” to the agreement are also necessary.
“Some of the property transfers have already happened,” she said regarding housekeeping amendments. “There are going to be some updated references in terms of the property ownership.”
Apart from the amendments to the Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement, VanEmburgh said additional agreements will need to be made as the project moves forward, like public works agreements and stormwater management easements.
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