Beaumont has come a long way and made many improvements over the past few months, but they still have work to do.
Independence Township Planning Commission tabled Beaumont’s conceptual site plan at its Dec. 20 public hearing.
‘Our job is to get the best plan on that piece of property,? said Cheryl Karrick, planning commission chairwoman. ‘Once we’ve gotten to that point, then make a determination if we feel it deserves a PUD (Planned Unit Development) and deserves conceptual site plan approval. When they come back to us next time, hopefully we can be at a point where we can make that kind of determination.?
More than 100 people filled Independence Township Library Thursday night to voice opinions and concerns.
‘I think that Mr. (Eric) Hunt did a nice job with the presentation and obviously they have been doing a lot of work behind closed doors,? said Ryan Zeeman, Independence Township resident.
‘I think the plan has portions that are promising, but when you look at all three phases put together in a package, the problem is location, location, location. Nice plan if it were possibly on a different location. Beaumont is putting a proposal in a residential section. I saw a lot of people wearing ‘I support Beaumont? stickers. I do too. I just don’t support them in my backyard.?
Some issues the board wanted clarified before moving ahead: traffic study on all three phases, complete breakdown of tax revenue, and impact on wetlands.
Karrick said the township doesn’t need more strip malls or strip commercial buildings, and more residential homes would make an impact on schools and roads. But the township needs something that will bring jobs.
‘I think we’ve got a good group of petitioners right now who have a pretty solid plan that is self supportive. They are looking, at top end, probably 1,500 good jobs here,? she said. ‘We’re in an economic decline in Oakland County. If we can secure something like that and also take care of our residents at the same time, that would be a win, win.?
Eric Hunt, vice president of operations for William Beaumont Hospital ambulatory services, said he was thankful for concerns by the public and board members.
They already gave a phase-three template to traffic planners, and hope to give it to Independence Township planner Dick Carlisle this week, Hunt said.
‘That’s not an issue ? we have a plan. The numbers work for phase three and we’ll get that to them,? he said. ‘We understand that it will have to be updated prior to implementation of phase three, but if they want the numbers now for existing traffic, we can do that, not a problem, not an issue whatsoever.?
Hunt doesn’t see a problem with engineering their water and retention plan.
‘We do have a plan and the county is strict on what you can do and what you can’t do, and we will comply with all the county regulations ? we’ve already assessed the site and we can do that,? he said. ‘We understand the concern, we appreciate the concern. We’re confident in our preliminary hearing that it won’t be an issue. We can accommodate the water on that site.?
Site plan improvements include reducing the entire project by 30 percent, and parking by 34 percent, remove Phase I Cranberry Lake Road access and Phase III Allen Road access, reduce height of Phase I medical office building, and increase green space and building setbacks.
Other improvements include MDOT confirmation of site access, traffic circulation improvements, central plaza with water features, wellness nature park and trail system, safety path expansion, and relocation of community hospital, wellness center, and parking structure away from residential neighbors.
‘Everything that we have asked them to do to this point, they’ve jumped through hoops to make happen,? said Karrick.
Hunt is hoping to be back before the planning commission by early January.
‘We’ve been delving out the assignments,? said Hunt.
‘We want to have everything in by the end of the year, so we can be on the first meeting agenda, or if that’s not possible, as soon as possible after that.? ?