Re: The Village of Lake Orion Planning Commission public hearing on the proposed preliminary Planned Unit Development for 55 Elizabeth Street, aka the former Lake Orion High School, aka The Ehman Center.

I was at the meeting and there were the usual comments about traffic, parking, and losing a historic building, even though the plan is to keep the building and restore it, not tear it down or or alter the exterior.

Based on comments made at the meeting, it has been empty for over 60 years with no other viable plans other than letting it deteriorate until it will have to be demolished.

That would be a shame and a waste of a valuable resource.

Oh yes, there would also be a huge increase in property tax revenue and people using local businesses if this were allowed to move ahead.

I hope the neighbors, and perhaps the planners, get over their obsession with parking and traffic, instead looking at hopefully affordable housing for people that could work in the village and not need to drive everywhere.

I understand that’s a lot to ask anywhere in Michigan but Lake Orion has started to make some good moves in that direction. If you want to live in suburban sprawl and have free readily available parking everywhere you go, there are many other areas that provide exactly that.

Cory Johnston

Lake Orion