Town officials could allow use of the property by the hospital via a special use permit. Town Supervisor Don Steger told board members at a recent meeting that it would be self-regulating on one hand.

“I can’t see another hospital coming anywhere in the town,” he said.

Another option would be to change the area where the hospital would sit from an AR1, agricultural, residential, district to a B2 district, which is defined as highway business in the town’s code. A public hearing would need to be held before the town board would give consideration.

No action was taken by board members as a discussion ensued over the process and ramifications to possible changes. Board member Christopher Schaeffer asked whether people in the area get notified of a potential change.

This is the design for the newly-proposed Brooks Memorial Hospital, which will be located off East Main Road in the town of Pomfret.

“If zoning’s going to be affected, I think we should let them know,” he said. “We still have to remember that we do have residents in that area and we have to make sure their rights are protected.”

If the district’s zoning were changed, Town Attorney Jeffrey Passafaro said it would go to a public hearing. As for use of property by special use permit, Passafaro told board members they might want to consider the same procedure if they go that route.

“The five of you have to decide on how you want to proceed,” he said.

James Joy, town planning board chairman, told members the planning board is trying to prepare for changes being made to the Route 20 corridor with development on the way.

“We have a proposed hospital in the north and we have a dentist office in the south. There’s property transactions and people are already looking and anticipating the hospital and what can come in after that,” he said. “We’re seeing progress take place and we have to keep up with it.”

The move for Brooks Memorial Hospital to an agricultural and residential area in Pomfret has officials examining a possible zoning change. Board members discussed the matter during a recent town board meeting.

Steger noted that the town will continue to study information.

In late September, the Brooks board of directors announced a move from its current location in the city of Dunkirk to property located off East Main Road in the town of Pomfret. Plans show the hospital’s entrance in between two residential homes in the town. A helipad is also being proposed on the site.

The proposed 100,000-square-foot hospital will have 21 medical/surgical beds, four intensive care beds, a four-bed maternity, an imaging suite plus an 11-bay emergency department, four operating rooms and two procedure rooms.