Good Samaritan Hospital officials said Thursday that they plan to ask the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board to defer approval of the hospital’s proposed controversial wellness center.
The hospital’s application for approval of the $14 million multi-level complex to be built near Lyman Woods Forest Preserve was scheduled to be ruled on at the state planning board’s meeting in Chicago next week. The hospital is requesting that the matter be moved to the board’s October agenda because of pending litigation.
Last month the Downers Grove Park District Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to sue the hospital to block construction of the fitness center, charging Good Samaritan with breach of contract related to environmental buffer zones between the proposed complex and Lyman Woods.
The Pierce Downer’s Heritage Alliance, a local environmental group, also has filed suit seeking to block construction of the facility
David McConkey, chief executive officer for Good Samaritan, said that the request to defer action “should not be viewed as a retreat” on the part of the hospital.