Swedish Medical Center appears to be a step closer to building an emergency services center in Maple Valley.

City Manager David Johnston reported to the City Council Monday the hospital is planning to begin a pre-application process for the facility.

In an e-mail Johnston stated the pre-application process is a “chance for a developer to discuss that project and do a preliminary review of the plans against the City’s code.” It allows a developer to resolve issues before submitting a formal application.

According to Johnson, the Swedish plans call for a two-story building that is between 56,000 and 57,000 square feet. A 24-hour emergency room, imaging center and lab would be on the first floor.

The second floor would be doctor offices.

The location is at the northwest corner of state Route 169 and Southeast 264th Street across from Motorplex.

Roger White is manager and co-owner of the property.

MultiCare and Valley Medical are also planning to build 24-hour emergency departments in Covington.

Valley signed a contract for a 10-acre site in the downtown area of Covington for its facility with plans to break ground in August or September, but city officials stated it is unlikely the permits will be approved for Valley to begin construction by late summer.

MultiCare plans to build an emergency department at the Covington Urgent Care site, which would be expanded to a 58-bed hospital. MultiCare has submitted a certificate of need application to the Department of Health for the hospital, which must be approved before they can build the hospital.