Beaumont plans are scaled back, but location is still a problem for many residents and township planners.
The Independence Township Planning Commission met June 14 to review preliminary plans for Beaumont’s hospital complex on M-15 just north of I-75.
According to Beaumont officials, the medical center would be a great investment for the community. In a low Michigan economy, the complex would open up 1,500 jobs for the community, as well as meet the need for a local nursing home.
However, many residents said the location is a ‘very invasive gesture on Beaumont’s part.?
‘Beaumont hears us but they do not take us serious, we don’t want massive development that invades major neighborhoods, violates our master plans, and violates our height restrictions,? said resident Neil Wallace. ‘The board needs to stand firm and send them back to the drawing board.?
Questions were raised concerning lighting, parking lot size, ground water, entry way off M-15 and its proximity to the I-75 entrance ramp, widening of M-15 at Clarkston Road, and how the hospital affects the value of houses surrounding the facility.
‘Anytime you have 100-plus residents voice their concerns, they are valid and we need to take them into account,? said Planning Commission member Curt Carson.
Resident Karen Mee said she used to own a house near the Beaumont hospital in Royal Oak and was able to sell it for three times what she paid for it.
‘I understand the concerns of many of the residents, but I do believe that this is for the overall good of the community,? she said ‘Especially bringing in jobs during a low economy.?
Beaumont officials say the project will include 63-percent green space once all phases are completed. Planning Commission Chairwomen Cheryl Karrick said the green space could be better used to relocate some of the buildings, and move them away from residents.
Beaumont did a Residential Impact Study on three other medical centers to determine what effect the hospital would have on residential home values.
According to Carson, the other projects were located in highly commercialized areas. The house values were in the $100,000-200,000 range, while here, house values are $400,000-$1 million.
‘It’s a whole other ball game,? he said. ‘They are not comparable.?
The board set up a sub-committee to go over the questions, before they move on to a public hearing. The sub-committee will consist of three planning commission members, building director, township consultants, and Beaumont consultants.
‘My biggest concern with moving forward with the public hearing is not knowing whether we have clearance for an entrance off M-15 with the location of the I-75 onramp,? said Karrick.
Beaumont official Dick Baubien said it could take 3-6 months to get an answer from Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Federal Highway commission.
Eric Hunt, vice president of operations for Beaumont’s Hospital Ambulatory Services Division, was unavailable for comment.