A rendering of the future project.

mstafford@observertoday.com

Current price tag for the new Brooks Memorial Hospital: $200 million. Estimated completion time: 32 months. Construction opening: September.

Project counsel Marc Romanowski offered the figures during a Fredonia Planning Board meeting.

Board member Dave Fridmann could only laugh, shake his head and murmur “Wow” at the new time frame. It was originally estimated at 18 months.

Romanowski said funding for the project is assembled. A key part is the state aid package unlocked last year, but Kaleida Health is also pitching in.

“Now that we have the state dollars, we can push for final approval,” Romanowski said. He said state agencies “told us internally the project’s a go,” but still haven’t given their “final seal of approval.”

The $200 million price tag is also a big rise from initial project estimates made almost a decade ago, Back then, it was supposed to be $75 million.

Brooks-TLC is hoping to start construction in September on the East Main Street site but cannot actually start building the hospital until all agencies have given their approval. The key approval is from the state Department of Health.

While building construction can’t begin until that comes in, Romanowski said Brooks-TLC is allowed to do preliminary site work. Romanowski noted the removal of an old barn, and construction of a berm, have already occurred. Stormwater ditch construction, utility installation, and site grading are upcoming.

The hospital is now envisioned as a one-story building on 130,000 square feet — a significant change from the original plan, which had it at two stories and 101,000 square feet.

Romanowski addressed Fredonia Planning Board concerns about propane tanks needed for generators. He corrected a statement he made at the board’s previous meeting that the tanks would power an emergency electricity supply. Rather, Romanowski said they would back up the heating system, and are capable of powering it for 96 hours.

The previous plan called for six 10,000-gallon propane tanks — but Romanowski called the stated size of the tanks “a typo.” It’s now supposed to be five 2,000-gallon tanks.

Romanowski promised to send more documentation of the hospital project, including renderings of key areas of the building such as the entrance, to Planning Board members.

The board decided to meet July 17 in order to discuss the project with Romanowski’s new material in hand. It plans to meet again July 23 for site plan approval and a State Environmental Quality Review declaration.