Almost two years, two months after its first presentation to Independence Township, McLaren Health Care Village may be a week away from final government approval.
An abbreviated Township Board voted unanimously to approve first reading of the $600 million project. Trustees Daniel Kelly and Charles Dunn, both lawyers with firms that work with McLaren, had recused themselves from the board during discussion of the McLaren plan.
Over the past year and a half, the project has been thoroughly reviewed by township department heads and the Planning Commission, said Richard Carlisle, planning consultant.
‘We’ve gone into quite a bit of excruciating detail, I think,? Carlisle said.
McLaren has worked with the township to make their plan a better fit with the area, he said.
Changes included shifting the hospital building from the center of the property to the north, closer to I-75. The five-story height of the 300-bed structures blends into the incline up to the highway and is less visible from Sashabaw, he said.
Independence Township needs a hospital, said Trustee Larry Rosso.
‘It wouldn’t hurt at all to have a hospital here,? said Rosso, the Township Board’s liaison to the Planning Commission. ‘It would save lives.?
Though not a public hearing, Supervisor David Wagner permitted comment from several residents.
Their concerns included the precedent set by permitting a variance from the township height ordinance. It could be used by other developers when making their cases.
Both Beaumont hospital and ORCO have proposed projects requiring exceptions to township height ordinances.
‘So far, we’ve kept the genie in the bottle,? said Neil Wallace of Independence Township. ‘The Master Plan should be the key consideration in this.?
Township planners have performed their due diligence, said township resident Mike Clark.
‘All of this has been addressed by the Planning Commission,? Clark said.
The McLaren project requires a second reading before the township board. If approved, it would break ground as soon as possible, probably in May, McLaren representatives said.
The next meeting of the township board is set for March 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Independence Township Library. Call 248-625-5111 for more information.

McLaren Health Care Village
About 74.4 acres, southeast corner of Sashabaw Road and I-75

Phase I
Medical office building, including new Clarkston Medical Group, three stories, 132,000 square feet
Cancer Center, two story, 32,000 square feet
Retail, professional office building, two story, 41,000 square feet
Parking, 836 spaces

Phase II
Hospital, 200 beds, five stories, 527,000 square feet
Parking garage, four story, 229,800 square feet
Medical office building expansion, two story, 50,000 square feet
Heart Center, two story, 50,000 square feet
Outdoor plaza and village green
Parking, 2,311 spaces

Phase III
Hospital expansion, 100 beds, five story, 216,000 square feet
Two medical office buildings, two story, total of 110,000 square feet
Parking garage expansion, four story, 92,400 square feet
Parking, 285 spaces