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Stanford Wins Approval For Massive Hospital Expansion

PALO ALTO (KCBS) - After four years of planning and debate, Stanford University has finally received the green light for the proposed $5 billion expansion of its medical center on the peninsula.

The Palo Alto City Council unanimously offered its support for the proposal Monday night, after hearing and considering the issue in various stages for the past few years.

The approval ended a four-year city review process.

KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:

Stanford officials said the project is needed to meet state seismic safety requirements and growing patient demand.

It was boosted by former 49ers quarterback Steve Young, who urged council members at Monday's meeting to support the expansion plan.

The hefty price tag will cover more than 1 million sq. ft. of new hospital, clinic and office space to its existing hospital in Palo Alto, as well as Lucille Packard Children's Hospital and the Stanford School of Medicine.

"I've been here thirty years, I've seen a lot of changes and for this to be continuing on to make us more world-known is something that I have looked forward to my entire career here at Stanford," said the Cardiology department's assistant clinic manager, Mary Ann Zamora. "And I just think it will be wonderful for not only the community but everybody outside of our community."

Construction is slated to get underway in Summer 2011 with a grand opening sometime in 2018.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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