Brandon Twp.-The Brandon School Board is expected to vote Monday night on the purchase of a 75 acre parcel north of Oakwood Road, east of Hadley Road, for the construction of a new elementary school. At a cost of $850,000, the purchase also includes a two and one-half acre parcel along Oakwood Road for access to the school.
The Oakwood and Hadley road property purchase would be the second location selected by the district in the past four months. In December, board members OK’d the purchase of 23 acres, valued at $500,000, just north of Leece Road along Oakwood Road for the construction of the new school.
The school will enroll about 350 kindergarten through fourth grade students. The building project will include a 65,000 square-foot building to replace the aging H.T. Burt Elementary School, a soccer field, softball diamond, playgrounds and natural area as outlined in the recent $73 million district bond extension OK’d by voters earlier this year.
Property owners in the Crystal Ponds subdivision just east of the proposed school location were notified in writing by the district regarding the purchase. Property owners along with school officials met to discuss the ramifications of the purchase.
‘It’s not what we expected,? said Jim Sauders, who along with his wife Lisa and 5-year-old daughter Morgan moved to subdivision about two years ago.
‘We anticipated about 40 other homes built on two-and-half acres’just like our home,? said Jim. ‘But times are tough and home sales are not what they were. We remain hopeful that the district will do what’s right for the community.?
Jim, an Oakland County Sheriff deputy expressed concern with the speed limit along Oakwood Road and suggested, if a school is located on the property than a modification of speed should be considered.
The west boundary of the property is defined by a 50-foot high lattice style power line owned by Novi based ITC.
‘It’s not what we expected,? said Jim Saunders, who with his wife Lisa and 5-year-old daughter Morgan, moved to subdivision about two years ago.
‘We anticipated about 40 other homes built on two-and-half acres’just like our home,? said Saunders. ‘But times are tough and home sales are not what they were. We remain hopeful that the district will do what’s right for the community.?
Saunders, an Oakland County Sheriff deputy, expressed concern with the speed limit along Oakwood Road and suggested if a school is located on the property, then a modification of speed should be considered.
The west boundary of the property is defined by a 130-foot high lattice style power line that carries 345,000,000 volts, owned by Novi-based ICTransmission.
Lisa Aragon, spokesperson for the company which transmits high voltage electricity from generating facilities in southeastern Michigan, other Midwestern states and Ontario to distribution substations, said the power lines are safe.
‘Our focus is on safety and the community,? said Aragon. ‘There’s been no problem with the lines nor are there any reports of long term problems with high voltage lines near a school.?
Aragon said that ITC adheres to all the National Electrical Safety Codes.