Some ideas take off and soar. Others sink like lead balloons in quicksand.
The idea of possibly building a new Oxford Township hall inside Stony Lake Park fell into the latter category last week.
What began as a simple discussion Dec. 8 over when to schedule interviews with architects looking to design the new township hall quickly turned into a heated debate when Supervisor Bill Dunn suggested the 14-acre Stony Lake Park be examined as a possible site for the future facility.
On Dec. 17, the township’s Building and Site Committee, engineer and five architects who have applied for the design job will visit the future site of the new hall, a 27-acre parcel at intersection of Seymour Lake and Granger roads.
Seventeen architects originally applied for the job. The Building and Site Committee narrowed the list of applicants to five Dec. 6.
Dunn suggested the architects and engineer also visit Stony Lake Park and give their opinion as to its ‘feasibility? as a possible construction site.
‘All I want to do is have you go out there and have the architect and engineer look at the site,? the supervisor said. ‘They should be able to tell visually whether it’s big enough. Whether it’s functional. If it’s a bad idea, kick it out. But you’re going to have at least investigated it.?
Following the meeting, Dunn told this reporter the site deserves to be investigated because it already has water/sewer hookups available and it’s ‘centrally located? with easy access to M-24.
‘And because we already own the park, we could sell the Seymour Lake and Granger property and put that money toward building the new hall at Stony,? he said. ‘The more money we sell the property for, the less tax dollars we have to spend building the new hall.?
Trustee Charles Kniffen, who sits on the Building and Site Committee, said Stony Lake Park ‘isn’t wide enough? to contain a township hall and all the parking that would be required.
Besides, the township board ‘agreed a long time ago? to use the property at Seymour Lake and Granger, he said.
Clerk Clara Sanderson, who also sits on the Building and Site Committee, said she too believed the township board gave ‘solid direction? the hall was to be constructed on the township-owned property.
Parks and Recreation Director Ron Davis spoke up and told the board the idea of using Stony Lake Park was actually his ‘brainchild? from ‘a couple years ago.?
During a recent visit to the park with township engineer Shannon Parry, of Rowe, Inc., Davis said he asked her if there was enough space to build a township facility there.
Davis said she told him ‘by all means? and said, ‘There’s more property here than I realized.?
‘That’s how it all got started,? he explained.
‘If you drive out there, look directly to your left when you go in the park. There’s an area right there (where the township hall could be built),? Davis said, adding it has water and sewer services available and is located on the ‘main drag,? referring to M-24.
He noted that a ‘vast majority of civic centers? have park lands surrounding them.
‘There’s more property there than you think,? Davis said of Stony Lake Park.
Davis? primary motivation for suggesting Stony Lake is his desire to see the park utilized much more than it is currently.
‘That park is only open three months a year,? he said. ‘I’d like to have that thing open year round. But I can’t staff it.?
Trustee Pat Fitchena, who lives on Stony Lake on Brabb Road, said what Davis is suggesting would take the park away from residents.
‘Right now, on a very busy day there, there’s hardly any parking,? she said. ‘So where are you going to put all these people??
‘I live there and I definitely would be against it,? Fitchena noted.
‘I’m not proposing doing it,? Dunn said. ‘All I’m saying is just go out there and take a look. If it’s not feasible, throw the idea out. But at least just take a look at it.?
‘I’m also not opposed to looking at something one time,? said Trustee Sue Bellairs. ‘Right now, when I hear it, I’m not that crazy over it because I see a lot of roadblocks . . . But I’m not opposed to looking at it.?
Resident Shirley Clancy, a member of the Building and Site Committee and former trustee, told officials she was ‘surprised? and ‘disappointed? the Stony Lake Park idea was ‘thrown on the floor? at this ‘late date.?
‘It is last minute,? she said, noting investigating a second site could ‘set the (township hall building) process back three or four months.?
After the meeting, Dunn told this reporter heand Davis both suggested Stony Lake Park to Clancy ‘a couple of years ago, but she never even considered it.?
Clancy said she thought the board’s next step was to hire an architect, so the township ‘can get moving on the project by mid-January? and ‘begin building in the spring.? She told officials that ‘further delay? in the project isn’t in the township’s interest from a ‘financial standpoint? and ‘from a space needs standpoint.?
Clancy said construction costs have risen in the ‘long time it took the board to get moving on this project, which will now cost this community ‘hundreds of thousands of dollars more for what it could have had four years ago.?
Another reason the township can’t afford further delay is because the current office facility can’t house the addition of even one more employee, according to Clancy.
Clancy was also upset over the ‘whole absence of input? from the public about the idea of building in Stony Lake Park.
‘I don’t think your community has been consulted at all,? she said.
‘I don’t know the mindset of the public,? Clancy said. ‘I would think they would view any additional property on that site (as being) utilized for recreational purposes. There are recreational needs in our township. We are growing.?
‘Even if you have them (architects and engineer) look at the site and they say it would work, I would not thing you could proceed without consulting your public to see how they felt about this issue,? Clancy said.
‘That little park and that lake is a jewel for the township, ? she said. ‘I just hate to see it turned into an office complex.?
For the record, Davis noted he ‘would never propose anything that would reduce or harm the integrity of a park.?
In the end, the township board gave no direction regarding the investigating of Stony Lake Park as a possible site.
However, officials did schedule interviews with the five architects for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11.