Franklin Township supervisors established the number of Equivalent Dwelling Units St. Luke’s may have at its planned medical office building.

St. Luke’s is to have 8.4 EDUs based upon 84 employees at the building to be attached to the hospital on Harrity Road.

Before the vote, Supervisor Jason Frey remained steadfast in that the township should adhere to its ordinance.

Board Chairman Fred Kemmerer echoed Frey’s sentiment, and explained the township’s stance.

“We’re going to do EDUs based on past practice,” Kemmerer said. “It wasn’t anything we’re trying to make difficult.”

Bob Martin, Senior Vice President, St. Luke’s University Health Network, said he had no problems with that.

“We’re OK with 8.4 (EDUs),” Martin said. “If that’s satisfactory to you, that’s satisfactory to us.”

In a related matter, supervisors on Tuesday signed a letter regarding the Statement of Compliance with PA Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, the township, St. Luke’s Hospital Site & Development & Pad Readiness RACP Grants, stating the township abides by program requirements.

The letter is required for St. Luke’s to receive the RACP Grant.

Last month, supervisors granted St. Luke’s conditional final approval to move forward with a medical office building attached to its main hospital in the township.

Supervisors granted that approval at that time once all of the comments from Carbon Engineering are addressed, and they work out how many EDUs would be needed.

Additionally, supervisors at that time granted a 30-day time extension for the St. Luke’s Medical Office Building Land Development Plan, and also approved the St. Luke’s Medical Office Building’s revised note.

After some back and forth, the board approved a pair of waiver requests, one under a section of the township’s subdivision and land development ordinance, and the other under the township’s stormwater management ordinance.

Plans call for a three-story, 60,000-square-foot medical office building to be built on 30.5 acres between the St. Luke’s Carbon Campus and down toward Reber Street.

The medical office building will be connected to the hospital by a walkway. The facility is expected to be opened in early 2023.

It will include cancer, cardiac, orthopedics care, pain management and physical therapy services and physicians’ offices, along with a full fitness center.

St. Luke’s University Health Network opened the doors to its $80 million Carbon campus on Nov. 20, 2021.