By Judy Halone-The Courier-Herald

Bonney Lake's continually evolving landscape will change once again when Franciscan Health System begins construction of a medical office complex.

The property was purchased from Michael Jankelson and Kimberly Woods for $2.8 million, Roland Jankelson said. The facility will be built on the south side of state Route 410 and 184th Avenue East, northeast of the Pierce County Park and Ride Transit Center.

&#8220There is quite a bit of frontage along 410 there,” Jankelson said.

&#8220We've purchased 3.2 acres on three parcels from the Jankelson family that will serve as the future site off a 32,000 to 36,000 square-foot building,” Franciscan Media Relations Manager Gale Robinette said.

The new building will house doctors' offices and other healthcare services that have yet to be determined.

&#8220We need to do a community needs assessment before providing due diligence in determining what the community's needs are,” he said. &#8220We're very early in the process.”

That process is detailed, he said.

&#8220We look at a forecast for continued population growth and demographics,” Robinette said. &#8220It's a very thorough and thoughtful process to make sure it's what the community needs and wants; it's a comprehensive evaluation of the community's needs.”

That includes looking to the future.

&#8220We look ahead to see which services aren't yet available,” he explained, which includes keeping a close eye on the south Plateau's development in Cascadia.

&#8220This area is rapidly growing, and we're keeping our eyes on it,” Robinette said.

Franciscan Health Care was established in 1891 by the Sisters of St. Francis. Along with its flagship hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, the system also includes St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood and Enumclaw Regional Hospital - which is doubling its size to 90,000 square feet. St. Anthony Hospital, located in Gig Harbor, is now in the building process after gaining approval for construction in 2005, Robinette said.

He added that Franciscan has no plans for building a hospital in Bonney Lake.

&#8220Washington is a Certificate of Needs state - it's a rare and very rigorous process to get hospitals approved in Washington, because the state requires demographics and data collection,” he said.

Robinette added that in the past two decades, only two hospitals have been approved for new construction - St. Anthony's and Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center in north Vancouver.

&#8220It's a rare and wondrous thing when they're approved,” he added.

With the health system's preliminary drawing submitted to the city of Bonney Lake's planning department, Robinette said it is too early to predict when construction may begin.

A building permit for the proposed property has not yet come through, Bonney Lake Permit Coordinator Jennifer Francis said, which is needed before impact fees for traffic, schools and parks can be determined.

Judy Halone can be reached at jhalone@courierherald.com.