By a vote of 5-2 the Brandon School Board rejected an agenda item to construct a parking lot on recently acquired school property south of the current high school campus.
The vote came after several in attendance at the meeting expressed opposition to the construction of a new 450 space parking lot on four acres due to the possible environmental impact the project would have on the wooded area next to the current lot. The additional parking is necessary say school officials for the new activities complex and current high school lot overcrowding.
The board OK’d the purchase of the16.03 acres at a cost of $410,500 from the township in November opening up about 29 acres of land just southeast of the high school that was previously landlocked due to other developments. Since then, several individuals had conferred with district representatives requesting consideration for some of the enviornmental features on the property including rare plants and drainage into the Kearsley Creek which crosses the property.
Lois B. Robbins, Brandon Township Phase II Stormwater Management Educator, Brandon Superintendent Tom Miller, Jason Arnold with Spalding DeDecker civil engineer along with other community members gathered in January to disscuss the parking lot issue.
‘We showed them the Michigan Natural Features Inventory Map, and the sensitivity of the area including the Kearsley Creek. We also shared information regarding a parking lot that would be more sensitive to the fragile environment,? said Robbis .
‘We also discussed a ‘parking lot analysis? some low-impact alternatives that are available along with some new technologies that are not well known to engineering firms. Because they are new, they may be more costly than conventional methods or in some cases, the cost could be less. A year’s delay in the project would allow time to research these alternatives, and write grants to cover additional costs if there are any. The State Revolving Fund and Kresge Foundation are both sources for such funding. I thought they would have taken this information into account.?
‘We hope to work with the school board that will be a win-win for everybody, we don’t want to stop the parking lot we just want to make sure it happens in the best way. There are better ways.?
Brandon School Board president Beth Nuccio, one of the five no votes said the board was not in agreement with the parking lot construction prior to Monday’s meeting.
‘This issue had come up before and the group had met with Tom (Miller),? said Nuccio.
‘Basically we need to have more information on this parking lot and explore alternatives. Those that spoke in opposition need to come with a plan to the next meeting of the Building and Site committee.?
‘There’re plants that may not be up at the time the parking lot is constructed, if there’s going to be plant rescue. In my opinion, the longer we wait the more plants we have. It was just too early. The agenda also included a request to approve a bid for the May 1 construction of the parking lot.
Tom Miller, Brandon School District superintdent expressed the necessity of the parking lot and the possible cost to the district if the project is delayed.
‘Right now it’s chaos out there at the high school in the morning plus there’s a safety issue with the school lot, we need to get this project done before the students come back for the fall.?
Miller said the bid package included a $204,000 deduction if the company would do the groundwork for both the new activities complex and the parking lot.
‘Since we lost the parking lot work for now we would anticipated the saving would not be realized.?
A special school board meeting will be scheduled to discuss the issue.