West Easton Hears Hospital Plan

The borough of says it needs more time to decide on a developer's proposal to turn an old mill into a medical facility.

Mickey Thompson, appearing before council Monday night on behalf of developer Abraham Atiyeh, asked the borough to change its zoning to allow Atiyeh to put some sort of medical facility inside the former Chipman Knitting Mills.

The mill property -- on East and Main streets in West Easton -- is also the place where Northampton County wants to put its DUI treatment center. County Council will vote next month on a lease for the facility.

Speaking to borough council Monday, Thompson stressed that his company has no specific plans for the property. 

However, Atiyeh had told The Morning Call that he wanted to put in a "high end" drug rehab facility.

Whatever the case, the developer needs the borough to change its zoning to allow for a "hospital" -- which in this case could refer to any sort of medical care center -- on the property.

"This doesn't give my company…a blank check," Thompson said, arguing council would be able to place restrictions on what could go there.

In return, West Easton could get a $150 impact fee for each new patient. If, for example, a rehab center opened on the site, with new patients every 28 days, the borough would receive $22,500 a month.

But Mayor Gerald Gross said the decision has to be about more than money.

"It's about the right project for our town," he said. We have to make sure it's not a distraction to the town, or a downgrading of the town."

In the end, borough officials said they weren't ready to decide on Thompson's request, and tabled the zoning change until they could discuss it further.

"We have a hole in the center of West Easton. We need to fill that with something," said Councilman Karl Hontz. 

But, he added, it has to be something that supports the community.

"It’s been a hole for a long time," Thompson said.

The reason the hole is there, he added, is because there hasn't been someone who will "cast the net" to find a tenant.