Palm Bay Planning Board to Consider $167.6 Million Health First Hospital Expansion

Palm Bay’s Planning and Zoning Board is scheduled to consider a proposed Health First expansion at Palm Bay Hospital on Wednesday, August 5. The project remains under review and has not received final approval.

The 6 p.m. hearing will address land-use and zoning requests for a 17.85-acre hospital-campus expansion, along with a separate city-initiated code amendment affecting hospital approvals and building height in Institutional Use districts.

Proposed expansion would add 119 beds

According to The Palm Bayer’s review of the hearing items, Health First is seeking a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment and companion rezoning for 17.85 acres along Medplex Parkway NE. The requests would change the property’s designations to Public/Semi-Public land use and Institutional Use zoning.

The reported application describes a $167.6 million project that would add 119 beds and expand acute-care and emergency-care capacity. Those figures describe the proposal before the board and are not presented as independent city estimates.

Health First separately announced a broader $230 million Palm Bay Hospital investment in May 2025. That announcement described a five-floor patient tower, 60 new inpatient beds, expanded operating-room and cardiac-care facilities, and shelled space that could support up to 60 additional beds in the future. The separate announcement should not be treated as identical to the $167.6 million application now under review.

Traffic study projects 2,681 weekday trips

The application’s traffic impact study projects 2,681 weekday daily trips associated with the proposed development. That figure is a forecast, not an observed count of current traffic.

The reviewed application includes transportation improvements at Malabar Road and Medplex Parkway. The reported conditions include a full traffic signal at the intersection and conversion of the westbound right-turn lane on Malabar Road to a shared through-right-turn lane. The measures remain subject to the official record and any final action.

For residents, commuters and hospital visitors, the Malabar Road and Medplex Parkway area is one of the main practical issues to watch as the proposal moves through review.

Code amendment would change hospital approvals

The board also is scheduled to consider city-initiated text amendment T26-00004 to Chapter 173 of the Palm Bay Land Development Code. The proposal would change hospitals in Institutional Use districts from conditional uses to permitted uses.

The amendment also would create an administrative process for licensed medical facilities seeking to exceed the baseline 40-foot building-height limit in applicable Institutional Use districts. It would change the approval process, but it would not guarantee approval of this hospital expansion or future medical facilities.

Staff recommendation and next steps

Growth Management staff recommends approval of the hospital-related plan amendment and rezoning requests, according to The Palm Bayer’s report. The Planning and Zoning Board conducts public hearings and makes recommendations on proposed comprehensive-plan and land-development changes; later action may still be required from the Palm Bay City Council.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 5, in the City Hall Council Chambers at 120 Malabar Road SE in Palm Bay. Residents can attend or monitor the city’s meeting and agenda systems for the hearing materials and any action taken.

Even if the board recommends approval, additional approvals, conditions and later City Council action may be required before the expansion can proceed.

Sources

• The Palm Bayer — Palm Bay P&Z Preview: $167.6M Hospital Expansion, Propane Plant Opposition, and Height Relief
• City of Palm Bay — Planning and Zoning Board
• Health First — Health First Announces $230 Million Palm Bay Hospital Expansion