When Independence Township planner Dick Carlisle said he ‘strongly recommended? Beaumont hospital not be given conceptual site plan approval by the planning commission, the crowd rose to their feet in a standing ovation.
After four hours of listening to changes made by Beaumont, concerns of residents, and Carlisle’s recommendations, the commission voted 4-2 to deny the project.
‘Basically you can’t make people’s properties worth less because of your project,? said Chairman Sam Moraco, who made the motion to deny the project. ‘Once you take people’s properties, their property is worth less.?
Phase three of the project, which included a boulevard, took residential properties and lowered other property values, Moraco said.
Moraco voted in favor of the motion along with Curt Carson, Joe Lawrence, and Larry Rosso.
Commissioners Joan McCrary and Cheryl Karrick voted no.
McCrary’s motion to approve conceptual site plan approval, with a condition to return at phase three, was defeated, 4-2.
‘I was disappointed in the way it went because I thought when I made the motion that included so many caveats that the others at least one or two of them would go along with Cheryl and I,? said McCrary, ‘because I thought I included everything they ever wanted.?
McCrary said she was also disappointed with Moraco, who served on the sub-committee with her and Karrick.
‘We thought he was going to be supportive, we thought he had so many good ideas in the sub-committee and we all worked so hard on changing everything,? she said. ‘I guess he had his other reasons.?
Moraco said the project is still a ‘work in progress? and they haven’t ‘burned any bridges? on Beaumont.
‘There will be something built there someday and it makes more sense to make it something medical related. For the longevity of it, it’s a good industry and seems to stick around,? he said. ‘I think they’re going to comeback with something we can support.?
Eric Hunt, vice president of operations for William Beaumont Hospital ambulatory services, said he was disappointed by the commission’s decision, but happy the commission left the plan open for negotiations.
‘We’ve got to figure out where the issues are, whether or not we can correct them, or whether there is a better alternative,? said Hunt.
‘I hope that Beaumont finally gets the message,? said Attorney Neil Wallace, township resident. ‘It’s not that we don’t want them here, but we want something appropriately for our community.?
Residents? concerns included invasion of property, taxes, no need for a second hospital because McLaren is already approved, water quality and wetland conservation.
‘The engineers and wetland consultants are very talented people who know how to handle wetland litigations. To litigate one-third of wetland is not an insurmountable deal, it’s not a big deal,? said Hunt. ‘It can be done and handled in a way that’s environmentally friendly and in fact environmentally beneficial to the community.?
Brian Foster, a business owner in the township, said Beamont, commission and Carlisle all had ‘good points.?
‘My hopes, with economic times we’re in and certain industries that are struggling and people being forced out of state to seek employment, is that the Independence Township Planning Commission board and city council will explore every opportunity with Beaumont hospital to allow them in some fashion to come into our community to provide jobs as well as services that are available through Beaumont practices,? said Foster. ‘It’s also my hope that both sides do not become frustrated with each other and give up on each other, as I feel that it is important to the economic growth of the community.?
Compromise is the key, he noted.
‘I am not taking sides because I don’t think either side is perfect. I just think it’s in everyone’s best interest to work together to come up with a ‘happy medium,?? he said. ‘If we can’t create 1,500 jobs because it’s going to alienate the neighborhood, then maybe we come up with something that has 500 jobs and is within the realm of what the neighbors would like.?
Karrick said she was appointed to make good planning decisions for the entire township, not just a ‘minority of people.?
‘I understand the plan is not perfect, but I don’t think you can pick one out in the township that is perfect, but this is an economic stimulus that’s coming to us,? she said. ‘I think we’re crazy to let a professional group like Beaumont get away from us. There are things that we still need to work on, but they’ve shown us that they’re willing to work with us every step of the way.?
Carson felt the project wasn’t ready to move forward.
‘The density was an issue, I think what they were anticipating doing up in the residential area wasn’t appropriate and the phase three traffic situation was going to be a problem,? he said.
‘The problem with a PUD (Planned Unit Development) is once you go ahead and give it an approval. Then the thing just starts to take off. This is a huge project and we’ve got to make sure it’s done right, if it’s going to be done at all.?
Phase three could have been developed without the bouvevard, Hunt said.
‘If that’s not what the commissioners want, then we would be willing to look at our other options, but at this point it seems like every time we answer a question or look at different options there’s a whole other concern thrown at us,? said Hunt. ‘It’s kind of like running through the rain drops and it gets a little frustrating after awhile.?
One area of conflict between Carlisle and Beaumont was wetlands. Carlisle said he has a statement from the Department of Environmental Quality stating one of the wetlands is state regulated. However, Hunt said he has a statement from DEQ saying it was not.
‘We have the documentation from the DEQ indicating that it’s not a state regulated wetland and for him to throw that out there again is disappointing and somewhat disingenuous,? Hunt said. ‘If he’s got some data, or some plan, or some finding that show’s something different then he should provide that to us or provide it the state and he’s done neither.?
Carlisle said he was ‘not surprised that DEQ would contradict themselves.?
Beaumont will have an internal meeting this week, in which they will discuss five different options, Hunt said.
‘We’re going to look at all of our options and make a decision as to what’s best for Beaumont and what’s best for the surrounding communities in order to bring quality healthcare out to that area,? he said.
Sites outside Independence Township are available, Hunt said.
‘The biggest problem with continuing along the track we are is that it’s very clear that Mr. Carlisle has no desire to try and work with us or to try to accommodate a site that includes a hospital on it,? said Hunt. ‘Therefore that’s an issue because I think that no matter what we come up with he’s not going to change his opinion and we’ll modify whatever concerns he has to prevent us from getting a site approved with a hospital.?