Beaumont’s down, but not out.
Eric Hunt, vice president of operations for William Beaumont Hospital ambulatory services, and other representatives plan to meet with Dick Carlisle, Independence Township planner, and township Building Department officials to figure the next steps.
‘We’ve kind of outlined the different options that we have and we’re trying to figure out what the best route to go is,? said Hunt.
‘Maybe we’ll get some guidance from Mr. Carlisle and then we’ll go back to the board of directors to make a final determination of what our next steps are at the end of May.?
Dave Wagner, Independence Township supervisor, still thinks the project is ‘workable.?
‘There are just some things that we view differently than they do,? he said. ‘I think we need to just sit down again and get a better understanding of what each of us are looking for and see if we can reach a meeting of the minds.?
Sam Moraco, planning commission chairman, said he is hopeful Beaumont will come back with a plan benefitting the community.
‘They need to figure out a project that can be serviced by traffic lights, not by a boulevard concept,? he said.
Moraco said the ‘boulevard concept? does not qualify them for a Planned Unit Development.
‘Bring us a plan that Dick Carlisle would accept,? he said.
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.
Township Planning Commission voted April 10 to reject Beaumont’s conceptual site plan.