Beaumont Hospital has decided to give Independence Township one more try, after meeting with township planners and Building Department.
Beaumont is working on a re-submittal of the project on M-15 at I-75, in hopes of finally moving ahead.
‘I think we’re making some progress,? said Eric Hunt, vice president of operations for William Beaumont Hospital ambulatory services. ‘We’re making some changes to the site plan and we’ll probably be filing something sometime in June.?
The only change for sure is removal of an assisted living facility, said Hunt, as discussed April 10 with the planning commission.
‘We are definitely taking that out and changing the layout of the nursing home to increase the setbacks,? he said. ‘We’re hopeful with these changes that we’re going to be able to accommodate the requests that were made at the last meeting to point where it will be acceptable to the planners. If not, then I am not sure where we go from there.?
Sam Moraco, planning commission chairman, said he assumes ‘they’ve addressed a lot of the concerns,? if Beaumont is planning a comeback
‘I’m excited that they’re coming back. I have always been hopeful we could work a deal with them because I feel that a lot of people in the community want them to be here,? he said.
‘Other than the neighboring properties, which are always a concern, the actual rest of the community seems to be in favor somewhat of a project.?
Dick Carlisle, Independence Township planner, said he met twice with Beaumont since the April 10 planning commission meeting, when the conceptual site plan was rejected.
The first was a ‘debriefing? on what happen and some issues of concern. The second was about what some of the possible changes were, he said.
‘At this point in time, I have not seen any resubmission, so I don’t know what the response of that’s going to be,? he said.
‘I think essentially the action the planning commission took made it very clear in terms of what the direction is, so at least that was helpful in being able to advise Beaumont that if they were to resubmit, that these were the kinds of things they needed to be thinking about.?
If a re-submittal is submitted next week, Beaumont could be on the June 26 planning commission meeting. Otherwise, they can appear before the commission in July.
‘We keep trying,? said Hunt. ‘It’s not like we’re not responsive ? we try to listen.?
Beaumont’s proposed, multi-stage Life Care Campus on 62.5 acres at the northwest corner I-75 and M-15 includes medical office building, ambulatory service center, laboratory, radiology department, imaging center, and 100-bed hospital.
The original plan, proposed in 2006, included a 200-bed hospital, and more building and parking space.