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MAY 2 1984 BOOK ` 56 PAGE 674 accreditation would be able to qualify for the height exception. Commissioner Lyons felt there should be some actual limitation besides the proposed floor area ratio (FAR). Mr. Keating noted that a major concern was that they did not want one hospital in the County to have considera- tion over the others, and they have found that it appears to be necessary for a hospital to go up rather than out. Discussion followed re the current height allowed for the Indian River Memorial Hospital, and it was noted that the Board of Variance some time ago gave them a waiver to go to 137' which would accommodate nine (9) stories and elevator towers. Commissioner Lyons felt that just because the Hospital wants to go up nine stories is not any reason to believe everyone else has got to go that high. He agreed there may be some economic point or factor which would enter into this, but what is proposed in the ordinance is carte blanche, and he was opposed to it. Attorney Brandenburg pointed out that if the Board is going to allow one particular type of facility to exceed the County height limit and require every other facility in the County to abide by it, it will be necessary to be able to distinguish on some basis why we are justified in allowing a hospital to go higher than any other type building - a manufacturing plant or office building, for instance. If there is no rational basis for that distinction to be made, the Board could have an equal protection argument problem with the Code. Commissioner Bird commented that his first rationaliza- tion was that it is okay to make an exception because we are talking about health care costs; it is a tax supported. institution; and we are saving money by allowing them to go up higher. However, the question.arises as to how you can 75