William Beaumont Hospital took its first step forward after receiving conceptual site plan approval.
‘I think they deserve to have their foot in the door,? said Sam Moraco, chairman of Independence Township Planning Commission. ‘They deserve the right to try and now build this project. If they can do it to our standards we’ll keep moving it forward. There was no basis to deny it at that point last night.?
The planning commission voted 5-2 at the June 26 meeting, with Larry Rosso and George Krull voting no.
Dick Carlisle, township planner, said ‘yes I approve? to the plan, after Beaumont met five major requirements he had requested at the last meeting in April. These included land use in terms of size, land use in relationship to the project, consistency with the master plan, impact on natural features, and traffic study.
‘It was a nice night, it was very rewarding to know that we’ve been able to reach compromise, which is kind of what the process has been, a long drawn out negotiation,? said Eric Hunt, vice president of operations for Beaumont.
The new plan includes approximately 70 percent open space, and has been scaled back from 663,000 square feet to 496,000 square feet, which Carlisle noted was the maximum the project could hold, according to the master plan.
They also eliminated an assisted living facility along with a physicians’ office buildings.
The master plan calls for a two-story limit in office-space zones, but the commission allowed a deviation for the phase three of the project.
‘The position of the building, which is in one of the lower areas of the site, from a relative standpoint, made it much lower from the points it would actually be visible to M-15 and the expressway,” Carlisle said. “The building size would be partially obscured by the parking structure.”
A taller story would also reduce land usage, he said.
‘They’ve got plenty of room on that property to spread that building out, but in the interest of trying to preserve open space and reduce the appearance of intensity of land cover, I felt that there was a sense for going up rather than going out with the building.?
Rosso said the plan sets a bad precedent.
‘What we did is open up a Pandora’s Box, the flood gates for other developers that will say ‘you did it for them, why can’t you do it for us??? He said. ‘This goes against everything the master plan stood for with the two-story limitation when it was created.?
Traffic was another concern, said Rosso.
‘No consideration for the traffic situation,? he said. ‘They are already going to exasperate what is already a horrendous traffic situation during those peak times on M-15.?
Neil Wallace, who had spoken against the plan at previous meetings, found favor with the revised plan.
‘I am impressed with the reduction of about four acres of building, 167,000 square feet,? Wallace said. “That more than offsets the height in terms of density in use of the land, so we really couldn’t hope for anything better.?
The majority of the public concerns during public comment regarded traffic, lighting, and need. Moraco allowed 30 minutes for those who had not spoken at previous meeting to address the commission.
Phase II of the project will include left- and right-turn lanes added to M-15 at Amy Drive and the entrance to the project, funded by Beaumont, Hunt said.
‘The goal of when you’re looking at a new development it’s not to improve traffic, but the goal is not to make traffic worse,? said Colleen Hill, transportation project engineer with Hubble Roth & Clark. ‘That’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to get the best that’s legally possible for the township.?
Moraco said lighting is a concern, but will be worked out as details of the plan are finalized. It was not a detail needed for conceptual site plan approval.
Commissioner Curt Carson asked Beaumont to consider hiring local people for building, as well as doctors, nurses and other staff members.
‘We’re committed to using local construction companies. We’ve told our developer, everybody has to be a Michigan company,? said Hunt. ‘I’ve told our developer and our construction folks we want to put bids out to anybody in the community that provides the service to build this building we want them bidding on the project.?
Some residents said they don’t think Beaumont will help the economy through home sales.
Hunt disagreed.
‘Let’s be real. People are saying nobody’s going to move here or live here, they’re all going to travel from wherever to come up here to work,? he said. ‘Look at the gas prices alone. You’re going to see a change around the country, I think, in the way people choose where they live and work. People are going to choose closer to where they live and work.?
Carson said Beaumont responded to their requests.
‘I think they sat down and they listened,? he said. ‘They actually came up with a plan that the community could wrap their arms around and embrace.?
The next step for Beaumont will be to ‘roll up their sleeves,? said Hunt, and start working on the fine details such as storm water management, engineering, and final architectural.
‘We’re going to work very diligently,? he said. ‘I talked to my team after the meeting that we’ve got to get moving on this and get this done as soon as possible.?
Hunt hopes to be back before the planning commission for final approval by ‘late Aug. at the best or early Sept. at the worst.?
‘There is a lot left to be done and this is by no means final approval, but we’re very excited to have gotten the conceptual site plan approval.?