FORT MILL -- A brief public hearing for the proposed annexation of 40 acres at the corner of Hwy. 160 and Hwy. 21 that could be the site of a new hospital was held Monday.

No residents showed up at the Fort Mill Town Council hearing.

The land, owned by Clear Springs Development, has been set aside for Piedmont Hospital should the company get permission from DHEC to build a 64-bed hospital.

In January the council voted to support Piedmont's application because hospital officials agreed to seek annexation for the site.

Presbyterian Healthcare, part of Novant Health, and Charlotte-based Hospital Partners also want to build a hospital in the township. Both will meet with the council Friday.

Charlotte-based Carolinas HealthCare System wants to build a facility in Rock Hill.

"Fort Mill is an important community, but Fort Mill by itself is not a large community," Scott White, spokesman for Carolinas HealthCare System, said about the location decision.

If Piedmont gets to build a hospital on the site, the peach orchards there now will disappear. But the old peach stand at the corner will be allowed to stay, at least for the next 99 years as long as it continues to sell peaches, said Charles Miller, Piedmont's CEO.

Piedmont plans to build a 228,000-square-foot, $107 million hospital and a 60,000-square-foot medical office building on the roughly 40-acre site.

Possible future expansions would include the ability to expand to 250 beds as well as two more 60,000-square-foot medical offices.

Under the 2004 State Health Plan, which determines need by hospital, Piedmont has a need for 64 more beds, based on population growth. DHEC accepted additional applications because of the lack of competition in the county, officials said.

"With one hospital generating a need, it is a community need," said Joel Grice, director of the bureau of health facilities and services at DHEC.

Grice said a decision should be made by late summer.

Eileen Bradway contributed to this story.