Beaumont’s back, this time for public hearing.
Beaumont Hospital will present plans for its property at M-15 and I-75, Dec. 13, at the Independence Township Library. The Planning Commission will accept public comments and consider conceptual site plan approval.
‘We are going to go through the revised site plan, which we worked with the sub-committee of the planning commission throughout the summer into September,? said Eric Hunt, vice president of operations for Beaumont’s Hospital Ambulatory Services Division.
‘We really moved things around quite a bit and we reduced the size and the scope of the project as well, so it’s a little smaller. And we have shifted the community hospital more toward the M-15 side of the parcel so it’s further away from the residential neighborhood.?
Hunt said changes also include reducing the phase I medical office building from three stories to two, as well as reducing the amount of parking spaces, and overall size of the project after phase III.
A concern by the planning commission was whether Beaumont had Michigan Department of Transportation’s approval for access of M-15, that close to the I-75 entrance ramp.
‘We’ve met with M-DOT and we did the engineering and they verified that we do have right-of-way onto M-15,? said Hunt. ‘The other major thing we did do, was we’ve created a wellness nature park on the 15 acres to the west of the project.?
This includes walking trails that connect to the township’s safety path, and preservation of wet lands.
‘It’s really a plan-preservation benefit to the township,? said Hunt.
Cheryl Karrick, planning commission chairwoman, said conceptual site plan approval would allow Beaumont to move forward, but planners still would have a say in the matter.
‘We can still ask them to make changes, (and) listen to our comments on things we think would improve the plan. Then they would have to come back again for a final site plan approval, meaning we’re endorsing what’s in front of us,? she said. ‘Nothing has been approved at this point. We’re just talking about possibilities of what could go at that site.?
Karrick’s three biggest concerns include traffic, density of the whole development, and impact on nearby residents.
‘I think those are still all of our concerns, those are things that are going to be discussed at the meeting on December 13,? she said. ‘I’m sure we’ll have a full room. I am sure we will have a lot of residents coming out to let us know what they think of the project.?
The seven members of the planning commission all have an equal vote, she said.
‘We all have our own thoughts, our own votes. We will just have to see what comes to pass,? she said. ‘It might get tabled, could get denied, anything can happen that day.?
Dave Belcher, building director for Independence Township, said he is getting ‘a lot of flak? from the public because the meeting is being held at the library instead of Clarkston High School’s auditorium ? the library cannot hold as many people.
The public hearing for the McLaren hospital last year was at the school, but the school district has changed its policies, which made it ‘tougher.?
‘Our job is to supply the planning commission and the township planner all the information that Beaumont has made available to us as the building department,? Belcher said. ‘If we let the planner and the planning commission do their job, we don’t really have a position to take on it either way, that’s why we have seven board members and a planner ? the building department does not even write a letter of recommendation or denial to the planning commission.?
Neil Wallace of Independence Township is one resident who thinks Beaumont should not intrude on surrounding neighborhoods.
‘I think until Beaumont understands that a part of the development cannot and should not invade a residential neighborhood, they should not expect the township to approve their proposal,? said Wallace.
The public hearing will start at 7:30 p.m. at Independence Township Library, 6495 Clarkston Road. For more information, call the township at 248-625-5111.