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Salem Health‘s redevelopment plan for an 8.4-acre parcel adjacent to its hospital took one step forward last week and two steps back this week.

After gaining permission from the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals to demolish 90-year-old Howard Hall, hospital administrators learned this week that they cannot proceed with plans to create a large parking lot and remove nine significant trees. LUBA‘s latest decision throws a monkey wrench into the overall project.

鈥淲e’re just really surprised,鈥� hospital spokeswoman Sherryll Hoar said. 鈥淲e never thought LUBA wouldn’t agree with the (Salem City Council) on this one.鈥�

Salem Health officials want to demolish Howard Hall, create a commemorative garden, develop a playground (open to the public) for children with disabilities and construct a 鈥渢herapy loop鈥� for patients relearning to walk.

However, plans for the site also include a surface parking lot with 264 spaces, which is more than Salem Revised Code allows on a parcel that size. Plus, if a parking lot of that size were allowed, its development would trigger necessary removal of nine significant trees. Hospital officials asked that the number of spaces be approved on the grounds that the parking would serve existing buildings on other campus lots, and the Salem City Council gave its OK in August.

The South Central Association of Neighbors (SCAN) filed an appeal with LUBA, arguing that city code does not allow parking spaces provided for the subject lot to be located on another lot. LUBA agreed with SCAN and remanded the decision to the City Council.

The nine trees would have been removed to make space for the parking lot. LUBA determined that because the parking lot wouldn’t be allowed, the trees wouldn’t need to come out.

鈥淲e don’t know what we’re going to do now,鈥� Hoar said. 鈥淲e found out Monday afternoon and are currently consulting with our team on how to proceed.鈥�

Hoar predicts that the hospital’s development team will make a decision by the end of the week, but said LUBA’s decision will require significant changes to existing plans.