Northside Hospital Cherokee Could Be Getting a Second Entrance

Northside Hospital Cherokee is looking to build a second entrance to the campus, and hospital representatives are asking Canton for financial assistance.

The Canton City Council discussed a request July 11 from Northside Hospital Cherokee for city contributions to the construction of a new traffic signal at the hospital.

Northside Hospital Cherokee is planning to build a second entrance to the hospital campus, which would be on Northside Cherokee Boulevard south of the current entrance, according to city documents.

The project is intended to increase safety for patients and visitors of the hospital, provide additional campus access to service vehicles and employees, and reserve the main entrance for individuals coming on campus for care and treatment, according to Northside representatives.

The second entrance will also decrease current and future access delays for first responders due to traffic, while also further connecting the Northside Cherokee campus to Northside Cherokee Boulevard and state highways as a regional transportation corridor.

Representatives of Northside are expecting the cost to put a signal at the intersection to be about $600,000. They are asking the city to contribute one third of the cost, or up to $200,000, upon completion of the work.

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners have committed up to $200,000 to go toward the project.

The request for funding to create a second entrance is an extension of the partnership between Cherokee County, the city of Canton and Northside Hospital Cherokee to build Northside Cherokee Boulevard and provide access to the hospital.

Northside Hospital Cherokee is expected to pay the remaining $200,000, and would be reimbursed through roadway impact fee credits per a development agreement from June 7, 2012, according to city documents.

Northside Hospital Cherokee CEO Billy Hayes is scheduled to give a presentation to the mayor and council July 18, after which the council is expected to vote on the request.

"We are looking forward to seeing a future presentation from Northside Hospital about their future plans and development that they have ongoing to expand the capacity of the hospital," Canton Mayor Bill Grant said. "We want to continue to be good partners and discuss how best to develop the area and improve it for all of our citizens."

The Canton City Council meeting starts at 6 p.m. July 18 at City Hall, 110 Academy St. in Canton. The meeting will also be available to watch online at canton.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.