Elk Grove Planning Commission approves major Sutter Health campus

$250 million campus to bring 900 jobs when build-out complete


The Elk Grove Planning Commission unanimously approved a plan by Sutter Health to develop a major medical campus Thursday night.

When completed, the $250 medical campus located near Laguna Blvd. and Laguna Springs is expected to employ up to 900 people.

This item was continued from the previous meeting two weeks ago after the commission expressed concern over several design features.

Speaking on behalf of the project was Sutter Health Care C.E.O. Thomas Gagen who noted Sutter's long presence in Elk Grove and the economic stimulus the project will provide the community. "It will generate other [economic] activities," Gagen said.

Elk Grove Fire Department Chief Steve Foster said that although the department welcomed Sutter's expansion in Elk Grove, he expressed concern that the new facility's presence would lead to additional expenses for the Cosumnes Community Services District, which operates the fire department.

To mitigate these concerns, the project was amended to allow an 11$#162 per-square-foot of building space impact fee for the fire department for ten years.

One person who spoke in favor of the project but objected to Sutter's business practices was Eric Christen, executive director of the Sacramento-based Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction. Christen said Sutter's project labor agreements with construction unions were "discriminatory" towards non-union workers.

"This non-sense has to stop," Christen said. Christen said his association plans to do mailers about Sutter to inform the public. (Read the statement online statement here.)

Although Sutter hopes to break ground early next year, the Elk Grove City Council will make the final determination for the project. The item is expected to be heard at the next council meeting on January 14.