Foley Studying Possibility Of Medical Overlay District

City of Foley officials have been studying the creation of an overlay district in the area of the South Baldwin Regional Medical Center (SBRMC), and the proposal was set to be discussed at this week’s city council meeting. A medical overlay district could encourage the expansion of medical services to meet the needs of a growing population, while protecting surrounding neighborhoods. SBRMC is currently undergoing a $200-million expansion that will increase the facility’s capacity to 142 beds. Wayne Dyess, executive director of planning and infrastructure, said the expansion is a good time to look at encouraging the development of medical facilities in the area. “We were looking for ways to encourage a conglomeration of medical uses near the hospital, to get the synergies between the new hospital and potential growth and the need for medical care,” Dyess said. “This is a way that we are looking to try to incentivise this.” The process is still in the planning stages, and city officials have met with developers and members of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance to discuss the proposal. The creation of the district would not change any existing zoning in the city: "Our vision for the medical overlay district is predominantly uses such as hospital support, clinics, therapy facilities and other directly related health care facilities; but to also include ancillary medical uses such as residential care facilities and assisted-living facilities,” Dyess said. This could also include auxiliary uses such as food, coffee shops and temporary style occupancy for healthcare employment such as traveling nurses.