Block of Kilrush Drive renamed Wellspring for Sutter Health

All's well that ends well without a buzzkill after Kilrush was here. The Folsom Planning Commission approved a request April 23 to change a block of Kilrush Drive to "Wellspring Drive." The name change will better reflect the wellness schtick of the new Sutter Health Center coming to Broadstone Crossing Phase II. The anchor tenant presents a vision of "achieving and maintaining wellness." "To reflect that vision, there was a preference that the facility address connotes wellness. Therefore, a project address with the name 'Wellspring' rather than 'Kilrush' is believed to better serve that vision," Folsom staff said in the report. In other words, Sutter Health wants to reassure patients the hospital is out to shower them with wellness. Staff intended to extend the name of Via Felice, a private street on the west side of East Bidwell Street at Palladio Folsom, but first responders were not on board. The Folsom Fire Deptartment advised against it to prevent confusion and ensure efficient response, staff said. The name change affects the new stretch between East Bidwell Street and Cavitt Drive, where only three parcels – all part of Broadstone Crossing – will take access. "Final improvements are underway for punching this through between East Bidwell and Cavitt Drive," Folsom Planner Jessica Brandt said at the meeting. "It's generous to call this a five-block street that changes names four times," laughed Commission Vice-Chair Daniel West. Along with Via Felice, Wellspring and Kilrush, the roadway ends with Darvel Court. "Unfortunately, Kilrush is a rough name to have a health facility on," said Brandt. Meanwhile, Kilrush is actually a coastal town in County Clare, Ireland, near the River Shannon. The Celtic word means "Church of the Woods." Streets in the Folsom neighborhood are named after Irish and Scottish towns such as Abbeyfeale and Bathgate. For example, Sir William Wallace, played by Mel Gibson in the film "Braveheart," was historically associated with the town of Darvel, Scotland, along with Robert the Bruce, King of Scots. Price Walker of Elliot Homes, who has named many Folsom streets over the years, including those honoring rock stars, urged minor matters like this to be handled at the staff level. "It seems a little silly that the Planning Commission needs to get into this kind of discussion at all," said Walker, who came up with the new name. As proposed, the $80 million Sutter Health project will include three buildings of 45,500 square feet, 48,840 square feet and 106,500 square feet. The larger building is for Sutter Health, while the other two buildings are pegged for general offices. Developer Morton & Pitalo said the site will be built out in three phases, with the larger Sutter Health center first, staff said.