Kettering Health Network plans medical office building in Springboro

“We want to provide services where people are,” said Elizabeth Long, spokeswoman for Kettering, which is opening free-standing emergency medical facilities in Franklin and Eaton.

Kettering’ s plan for a 31,296 square foot building across from the main entrance to Settlers Walk, a planned community on Ohio 741 - Main Street in Springboro- is scheduled for review Wednesday by the Springboro Planning Commission.

Last week, Kettering declined to provide additional details about the office building, even to Springboro staff preparing for Wednesday’s work session.

“City staff reserves comments at this time due to the lack of design details,” according to the staff report for the meeting.

The report indicated staff lacked a floor plan of the proposed building, which would have frontage on Village Park Drive and Gardner Road, as well as Ohi0 741, between Ohio 73 and Austin Boulevard.

Kettering’s expansions into Warren and Preble counties were in response to research on the needs of its customers for primary and specialty care, according to Long.

Kettering is opening free-standing emergency rooms in Franklin, at Interstate 71 and Ohio 73, and in Eaton, where residents lacked ready accces to emergency care, she said.

“When this emergency center opens up in Eaton later this year, you are within minutes of getting emergency care,” she said.

In Springboro, staff recommended the planning commission require Kettering to add 16 parking spots and a bike rack, and provide plans for lighting and landscaping for the proposed office building.

The building would be another step toward completing development of more than 750 acres proposed by developer Rob Coffman two decades ago.

Kettering purchased eight acres from a Coffman company for more than $1.2 million in 2006, according to property records.

Just west of the Kettering site, developer Charles Simms began construction in October on a $945,000 building, the first in the Parkside Row condominium community.

On the east side of Settlers Walk, St. Mary’s Catholic Church began construction in March on a new $6.2 million sanctuary and parish center — replacing existing facilities in Franklin — on 17 acres off Yankee Road.