The Georgia Department of Community Health’s Healthcare Facility Regulation Division, Health Planning rejected WellStar Health System’s claim that Northside Hospital needs a Certificate of Need review for a new, 84-bed hospital in Canton to replace its current 84-bed hospital on Tuesday.

The 300,000-square-foot project will be twice the size of its current facility, is expected to cost about $250 million and could be open by March 2015.

WellStar officials disputed Northside’s claim that they can relocate without obtaining a Certificate of Need and said Northside failed to provide proper documentation to obtain the exemption.

Northside executives, citing a 2008 law, argued they did not have to go through the CON process because they planned to relocate within a three-mile radius and not expand health services.

Pam Keene, spokeswoman for the state, said the determination letter stipulates that Northside cannot “offer any new clinical health services or add to their current CON-authorized bed capacity.”

— Staff Writer Kristal Dixon contributed to this report