Planning and Zoning Commission Approves Site Plan for Third Casper Hospital

The City of Casper Planning and Zoning Commission signed off on plans for a long-rumored third hospital in Casper at its meeting Tuesday night.

Officials with Nueterra, a Kansas-based healthcare facility management firm, say the privately-owned hospital would be located north of East Second Street between Venture Way and Park Ridge Drive.

Commission chairperson Fred Maguire says the plan met all of the commission’s criteria.

“We don’t look at the marketplace,” Maguire said. “I’m not so sure this is a good idea, but, as chairman of the planning and zoning commission, I voted (in favor of the plan) because the site plan met our qualifications.”

The plan was approved 5-1 with commissioner Monte Henrie being the only dissenting vote. Henrie says he believes the plan is being unnecessarily rushed.

“They’re just, kind of, not really looking at the whole thing carefully enough,” Henrie said. “They need to give it some time to see if the city really wants a new hospital.”

The hospital proposal has drawn harsh criticism from Wyoming Medical Center officials and from the Natrona County Board of County Commissioners.

The site plan now moves to Casper City Council for further review.

Kevin Koile contributed to this story.