[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
[00:01:16]
>> [MUSIC] IT IS 7:00 PM, SO WE'LL CALL THE JULY 26TH, 2021 REGULAR MEETING OF THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION TO ORDER.
FIRST ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC REMARKS THIS EVENING.
IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHES TO SPEAK ON A MATTER BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, YOU CAN DO SO AT TWO OPPORTUNITIES THIS EVENING, RIGHT NOW AND AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING.
REMEMBER THAT PUBLIC REMARKS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, THERE ARE SOME GREEN CARDS OVER AT THE TABLE AS YOU ENTER THE MEETING HERE.
YOU CAN FILL ONE OF THOSE OUT AND HAND THOSE TO OUR STAFF THEY'LL MAKE SURE THEY MAKE THEIR WAY UP TO US.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY GREEN CARDS AT THE MOMENT.
I'LL GIVE EVERYONE JUST A MOMENT IF THEY'D LIKE TO GO GRAB ONE.
I DON'T SEE ANYONE MOVING FOR THE CARDS, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC REMARKS AND MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM,
[3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CORDILL? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PREMOE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING? WE DID HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF THAT INSTEAD OF PUTTING OUR COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE HAVE AT OUR PLACE IN THE NEXT PACKET THAT WE AMEND OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING TO INCLUDE THOSE COMMUNICATIONS SO THAT ALL THE MATERIALS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA ARE TOGETHER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT?
>>OKAY. I SEE NO SHAKING HEADS, SO THAT LOOKS LIKE THE MOTION MAKER WILL ACCEPT THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
WE DO HAVE TWO COMMUNICATIONS TO ADD.
THE FIRST FROM JODY BOND RELATING TO PERMIT REQUEST NUMBER 21071 AND THE OTHER FROM KERRY RENNIE IN REGARDS TO SPECIAL USE PERMIT 21071.
WITH THAT SAID ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, SAY I.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
NEXT, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES FOR APPROVAL THIS EVENING, OUR JULY 12TH, 2021 REGULAR MEETING.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE MINUTES THIS EVENING?
>> MOVE BY COMMISSIONER PREMOE, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MINUTES THIS EVENING? COMMISSIONER CORDILL?
>> COMMISSIONER BLUMER I'D LIKE TO COMMENT I SAW YOU IN ATTENDANCE AT THE JULY 12TH MEETING.
>> I'LL ALREADY ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING].
>> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL REMOVE COMMISSIONER BLUMER FROM THE MEETING THEN, EVEN THOUGH I'M SURE YOU WATCHED IT REMOTELY.
>> NEXT TO LAST SENTENCE IN ITEM 6, I THINK SHOULD READ AT THE NEXT MEETING.
BUILDING MEETING, MEETING IN ORDER TO ANSWER SOME OF THE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.
>> I DON'T SEE WHERE THAT IS. I'M SORRY.
>> SENTENCE BEFORE LAST AND ITEM 6 ON PAGE 3 OF THE MINUTES ON PAGE 5 OF THE PACKET.
>> I MEAN, WE WERE BUILDING. WE ARE BUILDING [LAUGHTER].
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MINUTES? ANY OBJECTIONS TO THOSE CHANGES? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS AMENDED SAY I.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
WE HAD ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE,
[5. COMMUNICATIONS]
SIX PLUS THE TWO WE ADDED EARLIER SO EIGHT COMMUNICATIONS IN TOTAL, SIX IN OUR PACKET PREVIOUSLY AND TWO AT OUR PLACE.NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM 6, PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE HAVE NONE, WHICH BRINGS US TO OUR UNFINISHED BUSINESS. AGENDA ITEM 7.
[7A. Special Use Permit #21071 (Sparrow), construct a building greater than 25,000 square feet in size on the north side of Jolly Road, east of Kansas Street.]
A SPECIAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 21071,[00:05:03]
SPARROW TO CONSTRUCT A BUILDING GREATER THAN 25,000 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF JOLLY ROAD, EAST OF KANSAS STREET.MR. SCHMIDT DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR US THIS EVENING BEFORE WE GET STARTED?
WE SPARROW FOLLOWED UP ON A COUPLE OF THE ITEMS THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD QUESTIONS ON AT THE LAST MEETING IN OUR COVER MEMO, AND HAPPY TO DISCUSS ANY OF THOSE IF YOU'D LIKE.
[INAUDIBLE] SENDS HIS APOLOGIES.
WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE ON HIS OWN.
MY APOLOGIES FOR NOT GETTING IT OUT TO YOU UNTIL YESTERDAY.
I'M STILL FIGURING OUT OUR FILE SYSTEM.
THIS WAS IN A DIFFERENT CORRESPONDENCE FOLDER.
WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU BOTH, WITH BOTH A RESOLUTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND A RESOLUTION TO RECOMMEND DENIAL.
GIVEN THE SPLIT NATURE OF THE DISCUSSION OF THE LAST MEETING AND REPRESENTATIVES OF SPARROW ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO ANSWER ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
STAFF STANDS READY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [INAUDIBLE] COMMISSION DISCUSSION, I SEE COMMISSIONER BLUMER.
>> IT SEEMS TO ME, ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS OBJECTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEVELING AGAINST DEVELOPMENT IS THE NOISE FACTOR OF SIRENS AND AMBULANCES.
I NOTICED IN ONE OF THE SUBMISSIONS FROM THE STAFF THAT SOMEONE SAID THAT IT'S NOT THAT COMMON FOR THEM TO APPROACH WITH SIRENS BLAZING.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S FURTHER INFORMATION ON THAT POINT BECAUSE THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES OF CONCERN.
>> DOES A NUMBER OF THE APPLICANT'S TEAM WISH TO RESPOND TO THAT, PLEASE? IF YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD WHEN YOU COME UP, I'D APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> TOM BRES, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WITH SPARROW.
WOULD IT BE ALL RIGHT IF I MAKE SOME BRIEF COMMENTS, ARE WE TO JUST ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS TONIGHT?
>> IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THE QUESTION FIRST AT THE VERY LEAST, AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY SOMETHING.
>> SURE. THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR. KAREN KENT VANGORDER.
>> HI, I'M DR. KAREN KENT VANGORDER AM THE CHIEF MEDICAL AND QUALITY OFFICER AT SPARROW HEALTH SYSTEM.
I'M A FAMILY DOCTOR PRACTICE IN THE AREA FOR SOMEWHERE AROUND 28,29 YEARS AND LIVE AT 6215 BRIDGEWATER CIRCLE IN THE TOWNSHIP.
>> THE QUESTION IS A GOOD ONE ABOUT SIRENS AND LIGHTS AND I HAVE SOME INFORMATION FOR YOU ABOUT THE CODE IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN THAT REGULATES THAT.
LIGHTS AND SIRENS ARE TO BE USED WITH WHAT WE CALL LOW 1, OUT OF LEVEL 1, 2, 3, PRIORITY RUNS.
I'M GOING TO SOUND A LITTLE LIKE AN EMT HERE, BUT IF YOU HAVE A LEVEL 1 RUN, THEN THAT GETS LIGHTS AND SIRENS AND TRANSPOSES THE TRAFFIC LITTLE GPS THING YOU CAN TURN ON AND OFF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND SO ON.
NOW, IT'S APPARENTLY MORE COMMON TO ANSWER A CALL WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO RESCUE A PATIENT BECAUSE YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE LESS INFORMATION THAN WHEN YOU'VE ALREADY ATTENDED TO THE PATIENT, YOU KNOW A FAIR AMOUNT ABOUT THEM.
THEIR VITAL SIGNS AND HOW NEEDY THEY ARE AND WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO.
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION FOR OUR LOCAL AREA, OBVIOUSLY IT'S DIFFERENT IN CHICAGO WE'RE DEPENDING ON YOUR IS SOMEWHERE 10-15 PERCENT ACCORDING TO A NON-SCIENTIFIC STRAW POLL THAT I DID WITH THE EMTS IN OUR LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER.
BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE, THE ACTUAL NUMBER FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS ACTUALLY NOT KNOWN.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT DATABASE YET, ALTHOUGH THE STATE OF MICHIGAN IS LOOKING INTO GETTING IT.
WE WOULD HAVE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION RETROSPECTIVELY, PROBABLY SOMETIME IN THE NEXT YEAR.
THE ESSENTIAL THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE COMMUNITY ITSELF DOES NOT CHANGE.
WE WILL HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF CALLS AS WE HAVE NOW.
THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE LIGHTS AND SIREN ACTION IS, GOING TO THE PATIENT.
WHEN THE EMT KNOWS THAT THEY NEED, CARDIAC CATH LAB, AN OPERATING ROOM, STABILIZATION THAT REQUIRES DEFINITIVE TREATMENT, THAT HAS A HOSPITAL ASSOCIATED WITH IT, JUST LIKE NOW, THEY WILL BYPASS EVERYTHING AND GO TO SPARROW MAIN WITH THAT PATIENT.
THE MAIN ADVANTAGE TO HAVING A COMMUNITY ACCESS IS FOR A TIME WHERE THEY THINK THEY DON'T NEED IT.
OR YOU AS A NEIGHBOR OR A MOTHER OR FATHER THINKS THAT YOU DON'T NEED IT, BUT MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE IT.
THAT'S THE COMFORT OF HAVING A LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER AFFILIATED COMMUNITY ED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT OTHER KINDS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT LIGHTS AND SIRENS CAN I TRY TO ANSWER? I HAVE A COUPLE OF EXPERTS IN MY HIP POCKET THAT ARE ON STANDBY FOR QUESTIONS THAT THIS FAMILY DOCTOR COULD NOT ANSWER.
>> IF AM UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU SAYING, IT'S NOT STANDARD CRITICAL FOR ALL FIRE OR AMBULANCE ARRIVALS AT THIS UNIT TO BE RUNNING THEIR SIRENS?
[00:10:07]
>> IN FACT, IT WOULD BE STANDARD PROTOCOL FOR VERY FEW OF THEM TO RUN THEIR SIRENS.
EVEN WITH A LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER, IT'S LESS THAN 15 PERCENT.
WITH THIS WOULD BE FAR LESS THAN THAT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE TOPIC? WE'LL LET MR. BRES SPEAK.
WE MAY COME BACK TO YOU IF WE THINK OF ANY.
>> ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS JUST CONFIRM THAT WE'VE BROUGHT A TEAM HERE TONIGHT AND WE'RE EAGER AND HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE WE KNOW APPRECIATED SOME OF THE COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE LAST MEETING THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
WE'RE HERE AND LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN SHARE.
>>THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER PREMOE.
>> I'M STILL WONDERING IF WE DENY.
THIRTY THOUSAND PLUS SQUARE FEET, WILL YOU STILL BUILD AN EMERGENCY FACILITY?
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT FOR US.
IT'S A DECISION THAT INVOLVES OUR ENTIRE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IF YOU DENY THE PERMIT, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH THAT DECISION PROCESS TO DECIDE WHAT WE WOULD DO NEXT.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT CIRCULATION THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT OR YOUR FACILITIES?
>> PROBABLY OUR FACILITIES TEAM. GO AHEAD.
>> I RECALL AT THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AMBULANCES TAKING JOLLY OAK FROM OKEMOS ROAD, IS THAT CORRECT? I TOOK THAT THIS AFTERNOON WITH THAT IN MIND AND WENT AROUND THE ROUNDABOUT AND ESTIMATED WHERE THE CONNECTION WOULD BE BECAUSE THERE'S A GAP, THE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT IN PLACE.
HONESTY, IT SEEMED ROUNDABOUT.
I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED SOMEONE TO COME OFF OF JOLLY ROAD DIRECTLY.
I MEAN, IF THEY WERE LEAVING WITHOUT A PATIENT SURE, THEY COULD CIRCULATE OUT.
I WAS JUST WONDERING BECAUSE TO BE HONEST, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THERE IS A ROUND ABOUT IN THERE [OVERLAPPING] AND THAT YOU THEN TAKE A 90-DEGREE TURN AND PROBABLY ANOTHER JOG.
>> I THINK I WENT BACK AND WATCHED THE MEETING AGAIN, AND I THINK WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION BETWEEN TALKING ABOUT USE OF JOLLY OAK, AND TALKING ABOUT USE OF WOOD LAKE AND THE ENTRANCE THAT WE WOULD CREATE OFF OF WOOD LAKE.
WE REALLY WOULD NOT EXPECT AMBULANCES TO BE USING JOLLY OAK, AND TO BECOMING FROM OKEMOS ROAD ON TO JOLLY OAK.
WE WOULD EXPECT AMBULANCES TO GO FROM OKEMOS TO JOLLY.
I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO ASK DR. KENT TO COME BACK UP AND TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> MAIN ROADS ARE PRIMARILY USED, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S [NOISE] URGENCY BECAUSE THAT'S THE GPS HAS THE ABILITY TO TURN ON AND OFF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS [NOISE] LIKE YOU AND I, SO MUCH QUICKER FOR THEM TO USE THE MAIN ROADS AND THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT THEY DO.
>> BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AFTER IS WHAT ARE THE PERCEIVED ROUTES THROUGH STREETS? IS IT WOOD LAKE OFF OF JOLLY OR? THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD FACE EAST, CORRECT?
>> MY COLLEAGUE STACY BACK AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU. I RECOGNIZE HER.
>> TO TOM'S POINT, WE TALKED ABOUT JOLLY OAK AND WOOD LAKE INTERCHANGEABLY LAST MEETING AND THE TRAFFIC STUDY, I THINK CHERYL HELPED ME OUT, IT'S REALLY BASED ON COMING DOWN OKEMOS ROAD ACROSS JOLLY ROAD AND WOOD LAKE ROAD OR RIGHT INTO THE THE JOLLY ROAD CURB CUT.
NOTHING IS BASED ON THE JOLLY OAK USE.
>> YOU'RE THE ARCHITECT FOR THE PROJECT?
>> I'M NOT THE ARCHITECT PROGRESSIVE EE [OVERLAPPING] IS.
I'M IN OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT THOUGH.
>> SO IT IS ORIENTED TO THE SOUTH?
>> YEAH. [BACKGROUND] WE HAVE ENTERED SAYS ON THE SOUTH AND THE EAST OF THE BUILDING. I DON'T [BACKGROUND] KNOW.
DID THEY HAVE THE SITE PLAN AT THEIR FINGERTIPS SO THAT OUR CURB CUT RIGHT OFF OF JOLLY ROAD.
[00:15:02]
YOU SEE OUR WALK-IN ENTRANCE FOR THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND THEN THE PRIMARY CARE ENTRANCE IS OVER ON THE EAST.THAT'S A LOT OF THE RETURN PATIENTS THAT GET FAMILIAR WITH THE FACILITY AND THEY WOULD ENTER JOLLY ROAD UP WOULD LIKE AN IN ON THE EAST SIDE. [NOISE]
>> WE WERE GIVEN ELEVATIONS AT THE BACK OF OUR PACKET, BUT IT DID NOT SAY WHICH DIRECTION THEY WERE FACING.
>> AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT TOP IMAGE.
>> THE BOTTOM IMAGE IS FROM THE NORTHWEST CORNER LOOKING SOUTH-EAST.
THE AMBULANCE DROP-OFF IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
>> AMBULANCES COME IN TO THE NORTH?
>> THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE COMING IN FROM THE SOUTH OR THE EAST.
>> ENDING UP DROPPING PATIENTS OFF AT THE NORTH SIDE OF THAT.
>> YEAH. THAT'S WHERE THAT SCREENING IS.
REMEMBER, THIS AMBULANCE TRAFFIC IS VERY LOW TRAFFIC PER DAYS AND THAT'S WHY.
>> WE GAVE THE PRIMARY THE WALK IN ENTRY ON THE SOUTH AND THE PRIMARY CARE ENTRANCE ON THE EAST ARE REALLY THE MORE USED ENTRANCES TO THE BUILDING.
>> FOR OUR RECORDS YOU ARE WHO AND WHAT'S YOUR ADDRESS?
>> MY NAME IS STACY BACKY GUARD.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT FOR SPARROW HEALTH SYSTEM AND I DON'T RESIDE HERE. I RESIDE [INAUDIBLE].
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER RICHARDS.
ONE OF THE ISSUES, AT LEAST IN MY MIND, IS THE LIGHTING, WHICH IS GOING TO BE MOST IMPACTED OBVIOUSLY AT NIGHT.
ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS OF THIS OPERATION IS THAT IT'S A 24/7.
A COUPLE OF THINGS RELATED TO THAT, THE AMBULANCE IS COMING OUT ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE SOME LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT AND THEY'RE RELATIVELY HIGH IN TERMS OF HEIGHT GOES BECAUSE IT GOT THE LIGHTS AROUND.
I THINK THAT'S PART OF AN ISSUE AND I DON'T KNOW.
WE DID TALK ABOUT, BUT THIS IS MORE OF A PLANNING THING THAT COULD BE TREES AROUND IT.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT IT'S ON THE NORTH SIDE.
I MEAN, IF IT WAS OUT OF THE SOUTH-SIDE, I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU WANT THE MOST OF THE TRAFFIC COMING IN.
BUT TO ME, IF THIS WAS A 7:00 AM-7:00 PM OR 7:00AM-9:00 PM, THEN THAT'S LESS OF AN ISSUE.
BUT BECAUSE IT'S 24/7, THAT'S WHERE TO ME THE NEIGHBORS ARE IMPACTED.
MORE OF A STATEMENT, I GUESS, AND THEN IT IS A QUESTION.
OTHER THING I HAVE IN TERMS OF THE ANOTHER POINT, AND THE SOME OF THE LETTERS THAT CAME IN TALKING ABOUT SUPPORT BECAUSE IT ENHANCES LEVEL SERVICE HERE, I'M STILL HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A QUESTION MARK IN MY MIND AS TO HOW THIS OPERATION OF THE TRAUMA CENTER DIFFERS FROM A READY CARE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S MEDICAL DOCTORS POTENTIALLY ON STAFF, AND I GUESS ARGUABLY SOME OF THE [INAUDIBLE] REDICARE HAVE DOCTORS AND SOME DON'T, OR THERE TIMES THAT THEY DO OR DON'T.
BUT THAT'S ONE THING, I GUESS THE OTHER THING IS THAT IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT A STRICTLY FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, NOT SO MUCH ALAIEDON, WILLIAMSTON TO THE SOUTH, WHICH THIS IS GOING TO SERVE.
AT WHAT POINT IS SOMEBODY GOING TO, WHO'S ON THIS NORTH END OF THE TOWNSHIP, GO SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN HERE? YOU COULD ARGUE MAYBE [INAUDIBLE] OR GRAND RIVER, IF YOU'RE NORTH OF THERE, ARE YOU GOING TO GO THERE, ARE YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO A MCCREARY OR SPARROW? I CAN SEE THE LOCATION IS GOING TO SERVE NOT ONLY MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS FOR SURE.
IT'S GOING TO SERVED ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP, WILLIAMSTON, AND PEOPLE THAT ARE TO THE EAST.
I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT THIS IN TERMS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, BUT I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY BASED ON COMMISSIONER PREMOE'S QUESTION AND THE ANSWER I HEARD, THAT THE BUILDING SIZES IS DICTATED BY THE 24 HOUR SERVICE.
[00:20:07]
TO ME, THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING IS REALLY WHAT'S CREATING IN MY MIND THE POTENTIAL FOR NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS, WHICH IS MY MAIN CONCERN AS I LOOK AT THIS PROJECT AND TRYING TO BALANCE THE BENEFIT OF THIS FACILITY AND THE MEDICAL CARE THAT IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF US, AND I LIVE NOT VERY FAR FROM HERE, FROM THE LOCATION TRYING TO BALANCE THAT AGAINST THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED BY THIS.I DID HAVE A QUESTION THE LAST TIME AND I KNOW THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY ANSWERED IS, I HEARD IT A LITTLE BIT FROM THE CHIEF MEDICAL QUALITY CONTROL, I THINK IT IS.
A PERSON, BUT WHAT TYPES OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO COME HERE? OTHER THAN, I GUESS IF YOU'RE LATE AT NIGHT AND IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT OR SATURDAY NIGHT AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE AT SPARROW FOR SIX HOURS BEFORE YOU GET LOOKED AT, YOU WOULD POTENTIALLY GO HERE.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WHAT THINGS WOULD SOMEBODY GO HERE DURING THE DAY THAT THEY WOULDN'T GO TO A READY CARE FACILITY? IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT I'D APPRECIATE IT.
>> SURE. THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HEARD IN THERE AND CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHERS, AND THEN TIME FOR THE LIGHTS AND SIZE OF THE BUILDING QUESTION.
I THINK I GOT THEM AND IF I MISS ANY POINT THAT OUT, PLEASE.
IT'S A GOOD QUESTION ABOUT WHO GOES THERE.
ACTUALLY, IT AFFECTS THE PATIENT PREFERENCE AND THE PERCEPTION OF THE PATIENT HAS OF HOW SICK THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY WANT TO GO.
EVEN IF AN AMBULANCE PICKS YOU UP, THE EMT WILL TALK WITH YOU.
"GEE, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE HAVING A HEART ATTACK.
I KNOW YOU WANTED TO GO TO SPARROW, REDICARE, BUT I WANT YOU TO GO TO SPARROW MAIN." OR, "GEE, IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR ANKLE COULD BE BROKEN.
YOU CAN'T WALK OUT OF HERE, YOU'RE IN THE GROCERY STORE.
LET'S TAKE YOU TO SPARROW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP SO THAT YOU'RE CLOSE TO HOME WHEN YOU GET DONE AND YOUR WIFE CAN MEET YOU AND TAKE YOU HOME." IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT PATIENT PREFERENCE AND HOW SICK THE PATIENT IS IN CONSULTATION WITH AN EMT OR IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THE DECISION AS TO, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TONIGHT ABOUT YOUR MEDICAL CARE? WHAT I LIKE TO THINK TO MAKE IT REALLY SIMPLE IS IF YOU KNOW YOU NEED A LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER AND A HOSPITAL, YOU NEED AN OPERATING ROOM, YOU NEED THE THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH A HOSPITAL, YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
IF YOU THINK YOU'RE OKAY, BUT YOU PROBABLY BETTER NOT WAIT TILL MORNING TO FIND OUT, YOU MAY GO TO A FREESTANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, WHICH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WOULD NOW HAVE.
I THINK THOSE ARE GOOD WAYS TO THINK ABOUT THE PATIENT SIDE OF IT.
YOU WILL HAVE BOARD-CERTIFIED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PHYSICIANS AT A FREESTANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
AT AN URGENT CARE, YOU CAN HAVE A MOONLIGHTING INTERNAL MEDICINE DOC.
YOU COULD HAVE NUTRITION, YOU COULD HAVE A FAMILY DOCTOR, YOU COULD HAVE A PA.
THERE'S NO RULES ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE THERE AND WHAT THEIR CUTOFF IS FOR THEIR LEVEL OF COMPETENCE, SO THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF YOUR TREATMENT AT A FREESTANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
WHEREAS IF YOU NEED A CAT SCAN AS OPPOSED TO AN X-RAY, YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UP DOWN AT A NEXT FACILITY FROM AN URGENT CARE.
WE HAVE A MUCH WIDER CAPABILITY OF TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS AT A FREESTANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE THE LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER AND ALL THAT IT MEANS AT YOUR DISPOSAL.
IT TURNS OUT, YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD A HEADACHE, WE THINK YOU'RE HAVING A STROKE.
WE CAN TAKE YOU TO SPARROW, STABILIZED, ALREADY HAVING RECEIVED CLOT BUSTING MEDICATIONS TO BEGIN THE CIRCULATION IN YOUR BRAIN AGAIN TO THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, STROKE CENTER DOWN AT SPARROW.
BUT AT AN URGENT CARE, THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS.
YOU CAN REALLY GET STABILIZING AND DEFINITIVE TREATMENT AT A FREESTANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT LIKE THE ONE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR HOSPITAL THAT'S MUCH MORE ADVANCED.
>> CAN I ASK YOU JUST TO FOLLOW-UP TO THAT.
IF THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION OCCURS, HOW DOES THE PERSON GET FROM YOUR FACILITY TO SPARROW?
>> WHOSE AMBULANCES IS THAT? IS THAT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP THEN?
>> WELL, [LAUGHTER] THERE'S A MEDICAL CONTROL AUTHORITY THAT MAKES THOSE DECISIONS AS TO WHO GETS WHAT.
>> NO, WHO'S AVAILABLE? I'M JUST ASSUMING THEY HAVE AN AMBULANCE AVAILABLE AT THE STATION.
>> THERE IS AN AMBULANCE AVAILABLE, WHETHER IT'S
[00:25:01]
MERIDIAN OR A PRIVATE AMBULANCE CORPORATION.I KNOW THAT FOOD FIGHT IS BEYOND ME, BUT THERE'S RULES ABOUT IT AND THEY'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WOULD ASSUME THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO PUT LIGHTS AND SIREN ON IF THEY THINK SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE A STROKE.
>> NO. IF THEY THINK YOU'RE HAVING A STROKE, THEY'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY GOING TO TREAT YOU FOR THE STROKE AT THE FREESTANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, STABILIZE YOU, AND YOU PROBABLY WOULD NOT NEED LIGHTS AND SIRENS TO GET TO SPARROW.
THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF THE FREESTANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, IS THAT YOU HAVE ALL THAT BOARD CERTIFIED EXPERTISE RIGHT THERE.
>> TRANSFERS OUT WOULD BE STABILIZED PATIENTS, MOST LIKELY.
IF YOU ARE THAT SICK THAT THEY KNOW YOU NEED A LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER AND OPERATING ROOMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FROM THE TIME THEY PICK YOU UP THERE, THEY'RE GOING JUST LIKE THEY DO TODAY.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE CASE OF STROKE AND CASE OF HEART ATTACK.
WHAT KIND OF A SCENARIO WOULD THAT DOWNTOWN OR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FACILITY?
>> CERTAINLY, IT DEPENDS WHEN YOU KNOW.
WHEN THE EMTS KNOW IT'S THE PATIENT'S PREFERENCE MOSTLY.
BUT THE EMTS HAVE THAT RECOMMENDATION.
IT'S THE RARE PERSON THAT WOULD ARGUE WITH THE AMBULANCE COMPANY OR THE EMT [LAUGHTER] THAT'S TELLING THEM I REALLY THINK THAT YOU NEED WHAT YOU REALLY NEED.
>> THE PERSON CONSIDERED TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK WOULD BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FACILITY.
>> JUST LIKE THEY ARE NOW BECAUSE IT'S VERY LIKELY YOU WOULD NEED A CATH LAB OR SOMETHING ELSE ASSOCIATED WITH A HOSPITAL.
TELL ME TO ANSWER ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING AND WHAT'S IN IT.
ISN'T THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT THAT THEY'RE TAKES THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING?
>> CORRECT. COMMISSIONER RICHARDS, MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE 24/7.
THAT IS NOT THE DRIVER OF THE SIZE.
THE DRIVER OF THE SIZE IS TO HAVE BOTH AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND A PRIMARY CARE FAMILY MEDICINE PRACTICE.
24/7 FREESTANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT COULD BE BUILT IN 15,000 SQUARE FEET.
>> IF I REMEMBER FROM COMMENTS MADE, I THINK IT'S SAID ABOUT 8,000 OF THE 30,000, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, WAS GOING TO BE THE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS [OVERLAPPING] SOMEWHERE IN THERE.
>> LITTLE MORE THAN EIGHT AND 10 [OVERLAPPING].
>> MY RECOLLECTION OF THE SIZE.
>> THE SIZE REALLY IS, THAT'S WHAT WE FEEL IS THE BEST WAY TO MEET THE RIGHT THE GAP THAT WE THINK EXIST IN CARE IN THIS AREA.
>> BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID, YOU CAN BUILD AN EMERGENCY CENTER FOR 15,000 SQUARE FEET.
THEN I HEARD 8,000-10,000, THAT IF I DO THE MATH, THAT'S LESS THAN 30,000 SQUARE FEET. [BACKGROUND]
>> THIS YEAR FACILITIES WITHIN THE BUILDING THEY'RE ADDED BECAUSE BOTH OF THEM ARE THERE.
THEY GET YOU ABOVE THE 25,000 MEN WHEN YOU'RE SPLITTING EVERYTHING OUT.
THE MRI IS PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL.
THE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT ROOM GETS A WHOLE LOT BIGGER WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE THINGS.
>> I DON'T THINK ABOUT THE FACILITIES BECAUSE THEY PASSED THIS ON TO DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN ANSWER TO THIS.
SPARROW HAS AT LEAST THAT I KNOW OF, AT LEAST TWO FACILITIES ON GRAND RIVER IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
MY QUESTION WAS, ARE BOTH OF THOSE GOING TO STAY OPEN? WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THOSE TWO FACILITIES?
>> WE DON'T PLAN ANY CHANGE FOR THOSE FACILITIES.
THE HOURS OF THE URGENT CARE, THERE ISN'T A PLAN FOR A CHANGE.
LIKE WE'VE SAID, WE BELIEVE THAT THE CARE THAT WILL BE PROVIDED IN THIS NEW FACILITY WILL BE INCREMENTAL AND COMPLIMENT THE URGENT CARE THAT'S ON GRAND RIVER AND THEN WE HAVE SPARROW MEDICAL GROUP PRACTICE IN THE OTHER SITE.
>> I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO COMMISSIONER PARNELL'S QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCESS TO THE SITE.
THE FIRST ONE I THINK IS PRETTY MINOR.
AS I LOOK AT THE MAPS, I CAN SEE THE ELEVATION, DEVELOPMENT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO DO A SIDEWALK ON WOODLAKE DRIVE TO THE PARKING LOT AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE A REQUIREMENT OF THE SITE PLAN IN THIS CASE.
IT SEEMS WITH THE APARTMENTS THERE AND THE HOTEL THERE, YOU WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMEBODY WAS TRYING TO WALK TO THE FACILITY THEY DIDN'T GET RUN OVER IN THE DRIVEWAY ON THEIR WAY IN.
IT'S MORE DESIGNED DETAIL THAN MAYBE AS A SITE PLAN ISSUE,
[00:30:04]
BUT THE BIGGER ONE IS THE KANSAS ROAD ENTRANCE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.I'M CURIOUS YOUR THINKING ON THAT AT THIS POINT.
>> WE INCLUDED THE KANSAS ROAD ENTRANCE BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE RESIDENTS ON KANSAS ROAD FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY ACCIDENTALLY TURN DOWN THAT ROAD IF THEY'RE VISITING THE FACILITY FOR THE FIRST TIME AND DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
WE THINK THAT ONCE PATIENTS HAVE BEEN THERE AND THEY'RE RETURNING, THEY'RE GOING TO REALIZE THAT THE ENTRANCES TO THE BUILDING ARE ON THE EAST AND THE SOUTH SIDE, AND SO THEY'LL SEEK EITHER THE JOLLY ROAD ENTRANCE OR THE ENTRANCE OFF OF WOODLAKE.
WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE IT'S NOT A SHOWSTOPPER TO HAVE THAT CURB CUT ON KANSAS ROAD.
WE JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT A STIPULATION IN THE ZONING BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, WE HAD MIXED FEEDBACK THAT IT COULD BE BENEFICIAL.
IF IT'S NOT THERE AND SOMEBODY ACCIDENTALLY DRIVES DOWN KANSAS ROAD THINKING THERE'S AN ENTRANCE, THEN THEY HAVE TO TURN AROUND IN A RESIDENT'S DRIVEWAY TO GET BACK OUT.
WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROCESS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE DESIRED APPROACH WOULD BE.
>> IN YOUR OPINION, WOULD AN ADA ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE BE USEFUL AT THAT POINT SO THAT RESIDENTS COULD ACCESS THE FACILITY OR PEDESTRIANS COULD ACCESS THE FACILITY WITHOUT GOING DOWN TO JOLLY?
>> SURE THAT COULD MAKE SENSE.
>> I GUESS I WAS GOING BACK TO THE WOODLAKE AND THE ACCESS OFF OF JOLLY.
WILL THERE BE A MONUMENT SIGN? HOW OBVIOUS IS THIS GOING TO BE TO GET WHERE YOU NEED TO GET TO?
>> YES. IN PART OF OUR PERMISSION IN THE EASEMENT THAT WE'RE WRITING WITH THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER, BESIDES HAVING THAT CURB CUT, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE ASKING FOR SOME DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE THERE.
AS PERMITTED I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A DETAIL THAT COMES THROUGH IN THE SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS.
>> CAN I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION WITH HER? WHY ARE YOU EXCEEDING THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS?
>> WE HAVE CALCULATED OUR REQUIRED PARKING PER THE ORDINANCES MEDICAL OFFICE PARKING AT 5 PER 1000 OR 1 TO 200, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO THE MATH.
WE'RE STILL TWEAKING SOME OF THE DETAILS IN THE SITE PLAN ONCE WE GET TO THAT PROCESS BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE SHOWING 152 REQUIRED AND 154 PROVIDED.
I KNOW THAT IS A DIFFERENT NUMBER THAN WHAT IS IN THE STAFF REPORT, BUT I'M GUESSING MAYBE THAT.
I THINK IT'S 135 IN YOUR REPORT AND MAYBE THAT WAS BASED ON A GENERAL OFFICE 4 PER 1000 CALCULATION, I'M NOT QUITE SURE, BUT WE CALCULATED ON THE 5 PER 1000 MEDICAL OFFICE IN THE TOWNSHIP'S ORDINANCE, WHICH IS PRETTY STANDARD FOR MEDICAL OFFICE FROM CITY TO CITY TOWNSHIP TO TOWNSHIP.
WHAT WE FIND FROM A FREQUENT USER OF THESE FACILITIES PARKED AT THAT RATIO THAT IT'S COMFORTABLE, THAT IT'S NOT UNDER PARKED SO THAT IF THERE'S ADJACENT SIDE STREETS OR SOMETHING, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE SPILLING OUT, BUT THEN WE ALSO DON'T WANT A VACANT SEA OF CONCRETE ALSO.
THE 5 TO 1000 IS A PRETTY GOOD SWEET SPOT FOR THIS TYPE OF MEDICAL OFFICE.
>> JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT, AND [INAUDIBLE], THIS HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY ACTUALLY AT THE INITIAL SITE PLAN REVIEW.
I'M A LOT MORE AGGRESSIVE AS TO WHAT ACTUALLY COUNTS TOWARDS PARKING TO TRY AND GET A REALISTIC VIEW OF WHAT THE PUBLIC SPACE IS.
I PROBABLY TOOK SOME SPACE THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, TESTING ROOMS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT SHOULD ACTUALLY COUNT TOWARDS THE PARKING AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE FLUSH OUT THROUGH THE SITE PLAN REVIEW.
>> SURE. JUST AS A FOLLOW UP, I THINK THIS IS MORE OF A COMMENT AND A NOTE ON THE PARKING.
IF YOU DO FIND YOURSELVES WITH MORE PARKING SPACES THAN ARE REQUIRED, ONE THOUGHT THAT I HAD AS I WAS REVIEWING THE SITE PLAN THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US WAS, AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS WHOLE PROJECT THROUGH THE LENS OF THIS IS A BIG BUILDING, IT'S GOT THE POSSIBILITY OF A LOT OF USE FROM THE PUBLIC WHICH IS GREAT, BUT THAT MEANS BIG IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORS UNLESS WE TAKE SOME PRETTY STRICT PRECAUTIONS.
I'M LOOKING AT THE TWO PARKING AREAS ON THE NORTHERN MOST SECTION OF THE PARKING LOT,
[00:35:05]
NORTHERN MOST AND WESTERN MOST AND I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, IF I'VE GOT PEOPLE PULLING IN THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, LET'S JUST SAY WITH THEIR LIGHTS ON, THE TREES ARE GOING TO HELP.THE TREES ARE GOING TO DO A FAIR AMOUNT AND THERE'S A REASON WHY THAT'S WHAT'S IN OUR ORDINANCE.
BUT I COUNTED OUT ALMOST EXACTLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WAS REQUIRED BY THE ORDINANCE AND WHAT YOU'D PROVIDED IN THOSE TWO PARKING AREAS.
IF YOU END UP NEEDING TO GO WITH WHAT THE STAFF HAD PROVIDED IN THEIR COVER MEMO, TO ME THAT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD AREA TO TRIM.
IT'S ESPECIALLY THE CASE BECAUSE YOU ARE TRYING TO GET MOST OF YOUR PATIENTS TO ENTER FROM THE SOUTH.
YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO PARK UP ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING BECAUSE NOW THEY'VE GOT TO WALK ALL THE WAY AROUND TO GET INTO THE SOUTHERN ENTRANCE.
JUST MY TWO CENTS ON THE PARKING, IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN SOME SMALL WAY, AT THE VERY LEAST. COMMISSIONER BLUMER.
>> I'M CONTINUING ON THE PARKING ISSUE, I'M GUESSING, [INAUDIBLE] CORRECT ME, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PARKING SPACES UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BE USED EITHER BY FACULTY OR BY PEOPLE GOING TO THE MEDICAL PRACTICE PORTION OF THE FACILITY.
I DON'T ENVISION THAT MUCH PARKING NECESSARY FOR THE EMERGENCY FACILITY. AM I CORRECT THERE?
>> YEAH. IF YOU LOOK AT THE SITE PLAN, WE ZONED THE PARKING OUT, SO THE SOUTH IS REALLY INTENDED FOR THE WALK IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TRAFFIC.
THE PARKING CLOSEST TO THE EAST ENTRANCE, AGAIN, IS INTENDED FOR THAT PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE IMAGING SOMEBODY COMING IN FOR AN X-RAY.
THEN THAT NORTHERN SWEEP OF PARKING FROM EAST TO WEST IS REALLY INTENDED FOR STAFF.
THEY'RE THERE FOR EIGHT HOUR SHIFT OR 10 HOUR SHIFT, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF QUICK IN AND OUT, WHEREAS THE PATIENTS WOULD BE HERE FOR AN HOUR APPOINTMENT OR SOMETHING FASTER THAN THAT.
WE SEPARATED THOSE THREE ZONES ON OUR SITE PLAN.
CAN I JUST TOUCH ON THE LIGHTING BECAUSE I THINK IN COMMISSIONER RICHARD'S, I KNOW YOU WERE MAKING A STATEMENT WITH THE LIGHTING, BUT IT GOT GROUPED IN WITH SOME OTHER QUESTIONS WHERE WHEN WE GET TO THE SITE PLAN DETAILS ON THERE, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH GREAT LENGTHS TO LOOK AT THE NORTHERN AND THE WESTERN PROPERTY LINES HERE.
OUR PHOTOMETRIC STUDIES RIGHT NOW ARE SHOWING ZERO FOOT CANDLES FOR A GOOD DISTANCE ON BOTH OF THOSE, JUST MEANING THAT WE'RE NOT THROWING ANY LIGHT ACROSS OUR PROPERTY LINE OR EVEN TOWARDS THE PROPERTY LINE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY CONTINUING TO EVEN IMPROVE UPON THAT, JUST TO ADDRESS YOUR PARKING LOT LIGHTING QUESTION.
>> I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF OFF THE WALL QUESTIONS [NOISE] TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THE TIMING OF THIS IS.
I ASSUME THIS WILL REQUIRE A CERTIFICATE OF NEED FROM THE STATE.
I'M WONDERING IF THAT PROCESS HAS BEGAN AND I DON'T RECALL, IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE I WORKED FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH, THE TIMELINE INVOLVED IN GETTING A CERTIFICATE OF NEED.
>> ACTUALLY THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PLANNING HERE DO NOT FALL UNDER THE CERTIFICATE OF NEED.
>> I THOUGHT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WOULD.
OKAY. [BACKGROUND]. LIKE I SAY IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH.
THE CERTIFICATE OF NEED REGULATIONS WOULD ONLY APPLY TO OUR CT, OUR CAT SCAN IMAGING EQUIPMENT IN THIS FACILITY.
>> EVERYTHING ELSE IS OUTPATIENT SERVICES.
IT'S NOT GOVERNED BY THE HFES, HEALTH FACILITIES ENGINEERING SERVICES, AND IT'S NOT UNDER THE CON REGULATIONS.
>> I'M WONDERING [INAUDIBLE].WE JUST WON'T LET YOU WATCH BACK SERIOUSLY [LAUGHTER].
>> [INAUDIBLE] EIGHT FEET. IS THAT WHAT WE?
>> YEAH, AND THAT'S REALLY INTENDED WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE HEADLIGHT TURNAROUND.
WE KNOW TREES DO A LOT, BUT LIGHT'S NOT GOING TO GET THROUGH A MASONRY WALL.
I THINK WE INCLUDED THAT IMAGE IN THE PACKET.
TIM DID THAT. [BACKGROUND] [INAUDIBLE] TO THEM? OKAY.
>> SEVEN TO 10 FEET, I DIDN'T CATCH THE SENTENCE.
>> SEVEN FEET 10 INCHES OR EIGHT FEET, IT'S RIGHT.
I MEAN THAT'S ONLY TWO INCH DIFFERENCE,
[00:40:01]
BUT IT'S RIGHT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.>> OKAY. IT'S RELATIVELY FLAT IN THAT AREA?
>> THIS IS THE ONE WHERE I'M TRYING TO SAY THE ORDINANCE LIMITS THEM TO SIX FEET.
THE MAXIMUM [LAUGHTER] THAT WALL COULD BE IS SIX FEET PURSUANT TO OUR ORDINANCE REQUIREMENT. [LAUGHTER]
>> OKAY. I WAS JUST READING OFF, [LAUGHTER] WHICH ANYONE COULD DO ACTUALLY, IT WAS THE FIRST PAGE OF THE JULY 22ND MEMO.
THERE ARE BULLET POINTS IN THE TOP THIRD.
>> IF UNDERSTAND WE WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO ADD CONDITIONS.
ONE OF THOSE CONDITIONS IS WE COULD ASK FOR THAT TO BE A STONE WALL.
>> YEAH. I SUPPOSE THAT WE HAVE TO BE DEFINED, BUT YEAH.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, ON THE MASONRY WALL, THIS IS JUST FOR THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE PROPERTY OR DOES IT CURL AROUND TO THE NORTHERN SIDE AS WELL?
>> WE'VE GOT THIS 70 AT LEAST THE 75 FOOT BUFFER THAT'S UNDEVELOPED IN THAT NORTHERN PORTION.
WE DID DISCUSS WITH THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS, WOULD THERE BE A PREFERENCE FOR A PRIVACY FENCE OR A HARD WALL? WE'RE NOT SHOWING THAT DETAIL ON THE SITE PLAN RIGHT NOW.
BUT CERTAINLY WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT IN THE SITE PLAN REVIEW, WE COULD DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT.
>> WELL, TO COMMISSIONER PREMOE'S POINT, WE'RE IN POWER TO IMPOSE CONDITIONS ON THIS.
SO IT WOULD BEHOOVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO MOVE QUICKLY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WELL, TWO HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY.
[INAUDIBLE] GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT TONIGHT.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A WALL ON THE NORTHERN BUT THEN ALSO A WALL THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH SCREENING THE EMERGENCY ENTRANCE?
I'M GOING TO SAY THE NORTH-WEST QUARTER-ISH.
IS THAT A GOOD ESTIMATION? I GUESS IN THE LINK THAT WOULD SCREEN THAT DRIVE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW WELL YOU GUYS CAN SEE THAT SITE PLAN.
>> IF YOU LOOK ON A NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING PARKING RUNNING EAST-WEST, RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LAW PROPOSED TO RUN ESSENTIALLY FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM ENTRANCE DIRECTLY TO THE LAST AND THEN TURN NORTH.
STAFF HAS SUGGESTED THAT NEEDS TO AT LEAST GO AND COVER THE ENTIRE WESTERN EDGE OF THAT PARKING BAY.
>> UNDER THE CURRENT PROPOSAL, IT WOULD NOT GO ALONG WITH DETENTION BASIN AND THEN TURN BACK EAST AT THIS TIME.
THAT WOULD BE A MORE NATURAL BUFFER ALONG THE NORTHERN PROPERTY LINE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS HAVING TROUBLE SORTING OUT.
>> WHEN YOU WERE LAST HERE, WE TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSIT.
OBVIOUSLY A BUILDING OF THIS SIZE, IT'S GOING TO BE WELL TRAFFICKED BY THE PUBLIC AND MANY OF THEM WILL HAVE CARS.
SOME OF THEM WILL COME HERE, NOT IN THEIR OWN CARS, WOULD BE A AMBULANCES AND AT A CERTAIN POINT THOSE FOLKS WILL BE DISCHARGED AND SO READY ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO USED THIS IS OF INTEREST TO ME.
NOW I DON'T PROFESS TO BE A CATA EXPERT.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE VERY DELIBERATE IN THEIR DECIDING WHERE TO PUT STOPS AND WHAT NOT.
THE CLOSEST STOP IS GOING TO BE EITHER AT THE CORNER OF JOLLY OAK AND OKEMOS ROAD OR JOLLY JUST TO THE EAST OF OKEMOS ROAD.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS WITH CATA IN TERMS OF HAVING A STOP OR A RUN CLOSER TO YOUR FACILITY SHOULD IT BE APPROVED.
>> I HAVE REACHED OUT TO CATA.
WE HAVE CONTACTS THERE THAT WE WORK WITH OFTEN.
WE HAVE A LOT OF BUS STOPS AROUND OUR FACILITIES AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RESPONSE YET.
I REACHED OUT SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
THEY HAVE PROCESSES, THEY EVALUATE, THEY START LOOKING AT THINGS, BUT WE'VE ENTERED THE PROJECT TO THEM AND ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK, BUT I'LL CHECK BACK WITH THEM AGAIN TO KEEP THAT CONVERSATION MOVING.
>> I'LL COMMENT ON THAT [INAUDIBLE] JUST LAUNCHED ITS FIRST NEW FIXED ROUTE IN A LONG TIME.
RUNNING FROM SOUTH LANSING TO CAMPUS.
[00:45:03]
RIGHT PAST MCLAREN.>> YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE ABOUT.
THOUGH MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE, IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE AT THIS MOMENT.
THE OTHER THING WAS, WE HAD DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE A SIDEWALK INSTALLED ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF KANSAS STREET AS A PART OF THE IMPROVEMENT TO THE GENERAL QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE AREA.
CAN YOU TALK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT?
>> WE HAVE STUDIED THIS WITH OUR CIVIL ENGINEERS.
IT'S AN INTERESTING, TO BE A SIDEWALK RUNNING ALONG A GRAVEL ROAD.
BUT WE HAVEN'T SHOWN IT IN OUR SITE PLAN RIGHT NOW.
IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE COULD CONTINUE TO LOOK AT [NOISE].
UNLESS THAT'S A CONDITION THAT WOULD PROBABLY COME FORWARD IN THE SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS.
>> TIM, I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOUR POSITION IS ON THAT SIDEWALK ON A GRAVEL ROAD.
>> I THINK THE CONCERN FOR MOST PLANNERS IS WHEN YOU PUT IT IN A STUB OF A SIDEWALK, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH THE SIDEWALK? BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO DUMP OUT IN SOMEONE'S FRONT YARD.
THAT'S THE ONLY CONCERN I WOULD HAVE IS HOW DO WE FINISH IT? BECAUSE YOU'RE EITHER GOING TO TURN IT BACK TO THE WEST AND PUT THEM BACK INTO THE STREET, OR IT'S JUST GOING TO DUMP INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THEY'D BE TOO PLEASED ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S OUR CONCERN WHEN YOU DON'T A PLAN.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A REALISTIC FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO EVENTUALLY BUILD THAT SIDEWALK.
I MEAN, IT'S SUCH A LOW VOLUME SIDEWALK.
>> WHEN YOU SAY FINISH, YOU MEAN WHERE IT ENDS?
>> YEAH. WHERE WE CONTINUE, BECAUSE PRESUMABLY YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO NORTH AND EVENTUALLY IT WOULD CONNECT TO THE TRAIL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SUBDIVISIONS AT THE ALMOST THE NORTH END OF KANSAS STREET.
SO THERE'S A CERTAIN SYNERGY THERE, BUT YOU HAVE TO BUILD IT EVENTUALLY [LAUGHTER].
>> WELL, IT'S IN THE SENSE OF PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY BUT DOES NOT HAPPENING, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT ONE DAY KANSAS MIGHT BE A PAVED ROAD.
>> THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT ONE DAY THERE MIGHT BE A NEED FOR A SIDEWALK TO CONNECT, JOLLY TO THAT TRAIL CONNECTOR THAT YOU DESCRIBED AND SO AT THAT POINT, WOULDN'T WE HAVE WANTED THERE TO BE A SIDEWALK ALONG THIS FACILITY ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THAT ROAD TO FACILITATE THAT?
>> I WOULD AGREE AND I WOULD HAVE SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT THE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET. I DON'T DISAGREE.
YEAH, I THINK WE'RE OF THE SAME MIND.
IT'S REALLY A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE OUR ENGINEERS WEIGH IN ON THAT.
>> THE ROAD DEPARTMENT SINCE IT IS THEIR RIGHT AWAY.
>> RIGHT. SO FOR MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE I THINK AS A CONDITION AS WE MOVE FORWARD HERE IS TO PROVIDE THAT.
THIS OBVIOUSLY WILL GO TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AFTER US.
THEY GET FINAL SAY ON THIS SUP.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE TO OFFER THAT AS A CONDITION AT SOME POINT AS WE'RE MOVING ALONG THIS PROCESS, THEN EITHER APPROVING OR DENYING THIS.
SIMILARLY, I THINK JUST AS LONG AS I'M ON THE TOPIC OF CONDITIONS, IT'S MY OPINION THAT WE SHOULD CONDITION THIS ON CLOSING OFF THE DRIVEWAY ACCESS TO KANSAS ROAD.
I DON'T PARTICULARLY THINK THAT CURB CUT ONTO KANSAS IS HELPFUL TO THE RESIDENTS.
I MEAN, IF THEY GET FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD TO HAVE TO TURN AROUND THEY'RE WELL PAST WHERE THIS CURB CUT WILL BE ANYWAY.
SO THE REALITY IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE TURNING AROUND IN SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY, WHETHER IT'S THERE OR NOT, THE ONLY THING THAT YOU'RE MAYBE SAVING IS THE TURN OUT ON THE JOLLY AND THEN BACK INTO THE FACILITY.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO MERIT THAT AND I THINK IF YOU'RE COMING IN FROM THE WEST, THERE'S A MUCH GREATER POSSIBILITY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT ENTRANCE FROM KANSAS AND THEN PROACTIVELY TURN ON TO KANSAS TO GET INTO THE FACILITY.
I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ENCOURAGING ANY ENTRY INTO THIS FACILITY, IT SHOULD BE OFF OF JOLLY, NOT OFF OF KANSAS.
SO JUST MY TWO CENTS AS WE'RE DISCUSSING WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE OFFERED AS CONDITIONS IN THE FUTURE.
BUT IN THAT SENSE, HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY IF YOU'VE GOT A SIDEWALK RUNNING ALONG KANSAS STREET TO CONNECT IT TO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] AMBULANCES. ABSOLUTELY. ANYWAY, THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M COMING FROM ON A COUPLE OF THINGS THERE.
[00:50:01]
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE COME TO OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A MOTION AND MAKE ANY, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MIGHT WISH ON THIS AS WAITING TWO CONDITIONS.DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION THIS EVENING?
>> I WOULD [INAUDIBLE] WE RECOMMEND DENIAL.
>> DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION?
>> SUPPORTED BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDS.
DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT?
>> THE REASON FOR MY MOTION IS SINCE THEY ARE NOT CLEAR WHAT THEY WILL DO IF WE DENY WHICH TOSSES THE BALL UP IN THE AIR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE NEIGHBORS GETTING WHAT THEY WANT, WHICH IS NO FACILITY, NUMBER 1 AND NUMBER 2, I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT THEY CAN PUT WHAT THEY WANT IN 25,000 SQUARE FEET VERSUS 30,000 SQUARE FEET.
THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BUILD ON THE FACILITY, I THINK 25,000 FEET IS ACCURATE.
>> OKAY. FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL?
>> I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THE PROJECT IN GENERAL AND I THINK THAT THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND CAN BE ADDRESSED WITH APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS.
>> I AGREE WITH MR. MCCONNELL.
I BELIEVE THE FACILITY IS AN ASSET TO THE TOWNSHIP AND PERSONALLY DON'T FEEL THAT A 30,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING ON A LOT OF THIS SIZE IS EXCESSIVE IN THE SITUATION WE'VE APPROVED BUILDINGS IN EXCESS OF 25,000 ON THE LESSER ACREAGE AND SO I WOULD SUPPORT APPROVING IT.
NOW IT WILL GO AGAINST THE MOTION SPENDING.
>> I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS TWO COMMENTS.
MY ORIGINAL PRIMARY CONCERN ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA WAS THE NOISE FACTOR.
I'VE GOT NO REASONABLE ANSWER TO THAT.
THAT SATISFIED THAT IT IS NOT PHYSICALLY INCONSISTENT WITH OTHER BUILDINGS IN THE AREA.
IT'S RIGHT ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF WHAT IS OTHERWISE A COMMERCIAL ZONE.
THERE ARE VERY LARGE FACILITIES DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET OF A COMMERCIAL NATURE SO THAT THIS IS NOT PHYSICALLY OBTRUSIVE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
FRANKLY, I THINK IT IS AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY THAT COULD END UP SAVING LIVES.
I DON'T THINK IT'S OBSESSIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> YEAH. MY CONCERN IS A 24/ 7 OPERATION.
I WOULD TAKE EXCEPTION TO ONE OF THE WHEREAS THAT IS THERE A MOTION TO DENY? WHICH I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO USE FOR HERE, WHICH SAYS C IS THE 1, 2, 3, 4, SIXTH.
WHEREAS THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL STANDARDS FOR GRANTING, ESPECIALLY IN THIS PROGRAM.
I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S REALLY INCONSISTENT WITH AT LEAST IN MY VIEW, BECAUSE A COUPLE OF THE REQUIREMENTS TALK TO ADVERSE CONDITION IN TERMS OF IMPACTING THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND AT LEAST THERE'S AN ARGUMENT THAT THEY ARE IMPACTED.
I WOULD SAY THAT I WOULD MODIFY THE PROPOSED, DIDN'T NOW DEBATE IT, DENIAL OF MOTIONS SO THAT THAT REASON CONSISTENT INSTEAD OF CONSISTENT.
>> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
>> I THINK THE WHEREAS ABOVE IT IS ALSO AS A SIMILAR INCONSISTENCY WITH THE MOTIONS.
>> YEAH. WE'LL JUST TAKE THE KNOTS OUT.
>> WE WILL AMEND THE MOTION AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT [OVERLAPPING] TO AMEND THE FIFTH AND SIXTH WHEREAS IS TO MAKE THEM CONSISTENT WITH A MOTION TO DENY.
>> I GUESS IF I CAN JUST SAY A COUPLE MORE THINGS.
I DIDN'T APPRECIATE THAT SPIRAL HAS MADE A VERY STRONG EFFORT TO TRY TO MITIGATE ANY OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACT TO THE RESIDENTS.
[00:55:01]
I THINK THAT SPEAKS WELL FOR THE ORGANIZATION.BUT I THINK AS I LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF IT, AT LEAST IN MY VIEW, IT IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON A LONGSTANDING RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IT AND AGAIN, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, CREATING A 24/7 OPERATION SYSTEM WITH COMMISSIONER PREMOE, IF THEY CAN MAKE IT LESS THAN 25,000.
THEY DON'T NEED THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND THEY ARGUABLY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO IT.
BUT THE FACT THAT THIS IS PART OF IT, THE 24/7 OPERATION, HERE'S WHAT CONCERNS ME IF THIS WASN'T A 24/7 OPERATION AND I WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT.
>> MY QUESTION IS, IF WE DENY THE DENIAL DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE ACCEPT OR DO WE HAVE TO [OVERLAPPING] ANOTHER MOTION.
>> [LAUGHTER] ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> MY TWO THOUGHTS ARE MY $0.02 RATHER THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND THE DENIAL.
I THINK THAT I APPRECIATE THE LOGIC BEHIND THE MAKERS MOTION HERE AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE AMENDMENTS AT LEAST TO REMAIN CONSISTENT.
I THINK THAT MAYBE THEY COULD MAYBE THEY COULDN'T BUILD IT FOR LESS THAN 25,000 SQUARE FEET.
I'LL TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD THAT THEY NEED IT TO BE THIS SIZE.
I THINK THAT WE GIVE UP SOME OF OUR ABILITY TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IF WE SIMPLY RECOMMEND DENIAL, RIGHT? BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO ASK FOR A BUILDING THAT'S 25,000 AND ONE SQUARE FEET ARE MISSED IF WE DENY THIS AND THEY BUILD IT FOR 24,999 SQUARE FEET.
I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THIS PROCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT OVERALL THE PROJECT WILL BE AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY AS IT HAS BEEN SAID BY SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND SO I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND DENIAL THIS EVENING.
>> I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I THINK IT'S A GOOD PROJECT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE PROJECT.
I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN CONVINCED THAT 30,000 IS A NECESSARY NUMBER.
THE ARGUMENTS THEY MADE HAVEN'T CONVINCED ME AND SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE PRUDENT WHEN WE MAKE EXCEPTIONS.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PRUDENT EXCEPTION.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO ON TO A ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER PREMOE? JUST TO BE CLEAR FOR EVERYONE, A YES VOTE IN THIS CASE IS A VOTE TO DENY THE PROJECT HERE AT THAT 30,000 SQUARE FEET.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RICHARDS?
>> THE CHAIR VOTES, NO. MOTION PASSED. COMMISSIONER BLUMER?
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE ENTRY MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE BUDGET.
>> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TREZISE.
>> ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER?
>> CAN WE DISCUSS ANY CONDITIONS?
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO? [LAUGHTER]
>> NO, I APPRECIATE IT SOME OF THE CONDITIONS YOU MENTIONED.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT A MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THAT.
I WAS TRYING TO CLARIFY, ARE WE JUST VOTING YES OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT VOTING WITH CONDITIONS?
>> THERE WOULD BE AMENDMENTS [NOISE] TO THE MOTION THAT'S BEEN PREPARED.
>> THEY COULD BE FROM THE AMENDMENTS OR THEY COULD BE SOMETHING TO VOTE ON.
>> THEY'LL COME OUT IN THE DISCUSSION, I WOULD IMAGINE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION AT THIS MOMENT? COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL?
>> I'D LIKE TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO PLACE A CONDITION ON THE APPROVAL THAT PEDESTRIAN ACCESS
[01:00:03]
BE PROVIDED FROM BOTH THE EAST AND WEST AND THAT MOTOR VEHICLE ACCESS FROM KANSAS ROAD, NOT BE INCLUDED.>> CLEARED. IS THAT CLEAR ENOUGH?
>> ANY OBJECTION TO THAT AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION? [INAUDIBLE] UP, COMMISSIONER RICHARDS.
THE ACCESS, CAN WE BE MORE SPECIFIC? HOW'S THAT ACCESS GOING TO BE PROVIDED?
>> I'M HAPPY FOR STAFF IN-SITE REVIEW TO ENSURE THAT THE [INAUDIBLE] ACCESS MEETS TOWNSHIP CODE.
>> GOOD. BUT YOU REALIZE THAT JOLLY ROAD ALREADY HAS A PATHWAY THERE?
>> RIGHT. IF I NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, UP KANSAS ROAD AND INTO THE SITE AND FROM WOODLAKE WESTWARDS INTO THE SITE.
>> OKAY. JUST LET ME SEE IF I'VE UNDERSTOOD THE AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE.
PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY NORTH FROM JOLLY TO AT LEAST THE SOUTHERNMOST FACE OF THE BUILDING, SUCH THAT PEDESTRIANS COULD ENTER THE SOUTH ENTRANCE OFF OF KANSAS, THE PEDESTRIAN WAY FROM WOODLAKE DOWN THE EASTERN DRIVEWAY SO THEY CAN ACCESS THE BUILDING FROM THE EAST, THEN YOU ALSO HAD INCLUDED CLOSING THE CURB, CUT ACCESS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OFF OF KANSAS ROAD.
>> OKAY. EVERYONE, WE'RE ALL GOOD ON THAT UNDERSTANDING OR ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT AMENDMENT? SAYING NONE OF THE MOTION WILL BE ACCEPTED AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. DR. SCHMIDT.
>> JUST ONE THING I [INAUDIBLE] SAY SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT.
>> SO ORDERED. OKAY. ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS AT THIS TIME?
>> [INAUDIBLE], YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING IN TERMS OF BUILDING THE MASONRY WALL AND MAKING SURE THAT IT ALSO PREVENTED ADEQUATE SOUND BARRIER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A THING, BUT IT SOUNDS GREAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] YOU CAN OBSERVE THOSE ALONG 127 GOING NORTH ON BOTH SIDES.
>> DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE THAN A SIX-FOOT WALL?
>> A SIX-FOOT WALL IS CERTAINLY GOING TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON NOISE.
THAT I MEAN, IT'S A LOGARITHMIC CHANGE, WHICH MEANS WHEN YOU DIRECTLY CHANGE THE LINE OF SIGHT FOR NOISE.
BUT BUILDING A TRUE SOUND WALL LIKE YOU SEE ON 127, WHICH ABSOLUTELY IS VERY FUNCTIONAL, IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT UNDER OUR ORDINANCE.
>> YES, I THINK A SIX-FOOT WALL IS GOING TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL EFFECT ON WHAT GETS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WALL.
>> SOMEBODY WHO'S BUILT SOUND WALLS, I DISAGREE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.
IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE, BUT IT'S VERY DOABLE.
>> OH, NO, IT'S CERTAINLY DOABLE. I'M SAYING IT'S DIFFICULT UNDER OUR ORDINANCE.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE.
>> EXPLICITLY LIMITS WALL HEIGHT TO 6 FEET.
>> CAN SOMEONE JUST GIVE ME THE 30-SECOND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MAKES A SOUND WALL, A SOUND WALL?
>> IT'S THE WAY IT'S BUILT AND THE MATERIAL USED, AND THERE WILL BE A SOUND BARRIER SO THE SOUND WILL NOT.
IN OTHER WORDS, IN THE CASE OF A SIREN, IT WOULD AT THE VERY LEAST, GREATLY MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THAT NOISE.
>> IT'S NOT JUST HEIGHT, IT'S MATERIALS IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> OKAY, THAT SOUNDS A LOT DIFFERENT FROM A PRIVACY FENCE FOR A MASONRY WALL AND WITH REGARD TO THE NUMEROUS RESIDENT CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD, IT SEEMS ONLY FAIR TO ME TO ASK FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> OKAY. COMMISSIONER CORDILL.
>> I DON'T KNOW. I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT NEEDS TO BE STUDIED FURTHER.
I DON'T KNOW IF RESTRICTING THE HEIGHT WILL AFFECT IT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT A SILO APPEARANCE ON THE SITE EITHER.
[01:05:01]
DEFINITELY, IF YOU CAN MITIGATE SOUND, BY ALL MEANS, BUT I JUST WOULDN'T WANT TO TIE IT UP SO THAT WE GET THIS WEIRD CONFIGURATION ON THE SITE THAT NO ONE IS REALLY TERRIBLY PLEASED WITH.I'M THINKING OF WHAT I'VE SEEN ALONG INTERSTATES, AND THEY'RE PRETTY TALL.
WOULD WE WANT AN EIGHT OR TEN FOOT? I'M JUST ESTIMATING THE HEIGHT OF WHAT I'VE SEEN.
>> THERE IS NOT A HEIGHT REQUIREMENT.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TEN FEET.
>> COULD WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT EXPLORED DURING THE SITE PLAN? I DON'T KNOW AESTHETICS.
I THOUGHT THAT THE BRICK WALL, MANY PEOPLE USE IT AS A BARRIER.
BUT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO BE STUDIED MORE AT THE SITE FOR THE SITE PLAN.
THIS IS STILL GOING BEFORE THE BOARD.
>> YEAH. COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL AND COMMISSIONER TREZISE.
>> I WAS JUST GONNA SAY SINCE WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A VERY GOOD DEFINITION OF WHAT A SOUND WALL IS, THEN PUTTING IT INTO AN EXCEPTION REALLY DOESN'T HELP.
I WOULD LEAVE IT UP TO THE SITE PLANNING TO ATTEMPT TO MITIGATE SOUND INFLUENCE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT TRYING TO PUT A CONDITION THERE WHICH WE WOULD NOT KNOW WHETHER IT WAS ENFORCED OR FOLLOWED.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK STAFF THINKING IN THAT CASE, IF A [INAUDIBLE] WANTS TO BUILD A WALL, IF IT EXCEEDS THE ORDINANCE, THAT WOULD BE A ZBA CASE?
>> DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR US TO ASK FOR THE BIGGEST WALL THAT THE ZBA WILL ALLOW AND KICK THE CAN TO THEM, OR IS THAT JUST A CHEAT, OR IS THAT JUST A BAD IDEA? [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU. I WITHDRAW THE SUGGESTION.
>> AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ZBA, I AGREE WITH THIS.
>> SURE. WELL, I THINK THAT COMMISSIONER CORDILL MAKES A GOOD POINT THAT THIS IS NOT THE LAST TIME THIS WILL COME UP IN FRONT OF [NOISE] MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I THINK THAT THEY WATCH OUR MEETINGS AND LOOK AT THE MINUTES.
SO LONG AS OUR DISCUSSION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO INCLUDE A SOUND WALL AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS IN THERE, I HAVE FAITH THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD WILL SEE THAT AND TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN DECIDING FINALLY ON THIS MATTER.
>> IT MAY EVEN BE SOMETHING THAT SPARROW WOULD WANT TO DISCUSS WITH THE NEIGHBORS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THE DISCUSSION.
>> STARTED IT AGAIN. ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE CURRENT PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US? CURRENT MOTION? SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON THEN TO A ROLL CALLING.
IN THIS CASE, A YES VOTE IS TO APPROVE THE PROJECT WITH CONDITIONS AS AMENDED. COMMISSIONER BLUMER?
>> THE CHAIR VOTES. YES. MOTION CARRIES.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO CAME TO TALK ON THIS THAT WAS MUCH NEEDED INFORMATION, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN.
NEXT UP ITS AGENDA ITEM 9A THE TOWNSHIP BOARD UPDATES.
[9A. Township Board update.]
WILL HAND THINGS OVER TO DIRECTOR SCHMIDT.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUPLE OF THINGS PLANNING COMMISSION, YOU MAY RECALL THE MERIDIAN COMPANY REZONING BACK TO I-INDUSTRIAL THAT YOU DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL FOR THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, THEY HAD AN INITIAL CONVERSATION ON THAT AT THE LAST MEETING, AND IT'S MOVING IT FORWARD FOR INTRODUCTION.
THE REZONING ON JO DON THAT WAS, I WILL SAY, MILDLY CONFUSING.
[LAUGHTER] AFTER SOME DISCUSSION AT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD LEVEL, THEY UNDERSTOOD WHERE THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS COMING FROM, WITH THE APPLICANT HAD GOTTEN TO AND ARE MOVING THAT FORWARD AS WELL WITH AN EYE TOWARDS ULTIMATELY THAT NORTHERN PEACE BEING REZONED BACK.
IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE WILL BRING FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION TO REZONE THE WHOLE THING THEN.
I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE THERE.
THE BOARD DID TAKE UP THE MUPUD AMENDMENT DISCUSSION AND HAS SUGGESTED THAT WE DO NEED A JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING TO DISCUSS THAT FURTHER, SO I BELIEVE THE SUPERVISOR WILL BE REACHING OUT TO THE CHAIR TO WORK ON SCHEDULING THAT.
THEY HAVE BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF HAVING JOINT MEETING SOON ANYWAY, SO THIS WILL JUST BE ONE OF THE TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION.
[01:10:03]
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS AND MONTHS HERE.[NOISE] THOSE ARE THE [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THIS POINT IN FRONT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.
I WILL HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYONE ELSE THAT'S FLOATING AROUND, IF YOU HAVE ANY.
>> JUST A HOUSEKEEPING NOTE, I SEE NOTHING HAS CROPPED ONTO OUR AGENDA FOR AUGUST 9TH, AND I'D SPOKEN WITH DIRECTORS SCHMIDT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT MEETING AS A FULL GROUP ON AUGUST 9TH, BUT PERHAPS LEAVING THAT TIME AVAILABLE FOR OUR SIGN SUBCOMMITTEE TO MEET FOR A SECOND TIME TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD ON THAT.
ONE OF OUR GOALS FOR THIS YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS ON THAT? ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? OTHERWISE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PLAN ON NOT HAVING A FULL TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON THE NINTH.
>> IT ALSO SERVE AS A JOINT MEETING WITH TOWNSHIP BOARD.
>> THAT IS ALSO POSSIBLE DEPENDING ON THE-
>> AVAILABILITY AND REACHING OUT ABOUT THAT? YES. THAT TIME IS AVAILABLE.
SUPERVISOR, IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ARE INTERESTED IN.
[LAUGHTER] COMMISSIONER MCCONNEL.
>> AT ONE POINT, THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF A FUTURE LAND USE, PLAN GROUP, WORKING GROUP.
IS THAT'S STILL IN THE WORKS AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD?
>> IT'S ON THE RADAR WORKING THROUGH SIGN ORDINANCE FIRST.
WE'LL TRY GET THE FUTURE LAND USE GROUP.
I'LL BE COMPLETELY FRANK WITH YOU.
IN MY HEAD, I'M PUSHING THAT BACK A LITTLE BIT SO THAT WE CAN TRANSITION INTO NEXT YEAR'S BEGINNING THE DISCUSSION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, SO WHAT I THINK I WILL TRY AND DO HERE IN UPCOMING MEETINGS IS TO GIVE YOU GUYS A SENSE, GIVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION A SENSE OF MY INITIAL THOUGHTS FOR HOW WE ATTACK THAT.
BECAUSE I THINK EVERY PLANNER HAS THEIR OWN PHILOSOPHY ON HOW THESE THINGS WORK.
I DEFINITELY HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW YOU SHOULD LOOK AT THESE EVERY FIVE-YEAR UPDATES, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT WE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND MONEY ON 2017 UPDATE.
I HAVE SOME MONEY PROPOSED FOR THE BUDGET.
WHAT I'LL DO, IS I'LL TRY AND LAY OUT MY THINKING FOR THAT AND THAT'LL LEAD INTO THAT SUBCOMMITTEE HAVING DISCUSSION POTENTIALLY OF HOW THEY MOVE FORWARD AS WELL.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE HAD ANTICIPATED.
THIS WOULD BE TO US AS A RAMP UP TO THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE FOR NEXT YEAR, SO THAT'S GOOD.
>> ANY OTHER LIAISON COMMITTEE UPDATES?
[9B. Liaison reports.]
>> CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY WILL MEET WEDNESDAY.
>> THE ZBA COMMITTEE HAS NEVER MET FOR THE LAST TWO MONTH.
>> THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET EITHER [INAUDIBLE] AUGUST.
>> THE INITIAL THOUGHT TRANSPORTATION ON AUGUST WAS A JOINT MEETING OF THE EAST LANSING TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE INTERSECTION AT WHAT IS THAT? LAKE LANSING AND TOWER AND SOMETHING.
I THINK THERE'S A DESIRE BY BOTH TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONS TO GET TOGETHER AND HAVE A UNIFIED FRONT, AS WE TALKED WITH THE COUNTY, BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS SOME THOUGHTS THAT ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE LOCALS DO.
WE'RE TRYING TO COORDINATE THAT, SO I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM ENOUGH OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEMBERS TO DO IT JOINTLY ON THE SECOND.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND SHOOT FOR JOINTLY WITH OUR NORMAL MEETING WITH ESCIENCE IF THAT WORKS.
>> THE ZBA DOES NOT HAVE BUSINESS FOR ITS MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.
>> YOU AS WELL, HAVE A MEETING IN AUGUST.
>> ANY OTHER UPDATES? ONCE, TWICE SOLD. IT TAKES US TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM WHICH IS PROJECT UPDATES.
WE HAVE NOTHING NEW, RECEIVED OR APPROVED, SO OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM IS PUBLIC REMARKS.
[11. PUBLIC REMARKS]
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU DO HAVE THREE MINUTES AND PLEASE SUBMIT A GREEN CARD.I HAVE A COUPLE OF GREEN CARDS HERE.
PETER LUPA. IF YOU CAN PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD, AND THEN YOUR THREE MINUTES WILL BEGIN.
>> HELLO EVERYONE. PETER LUPA, A RESIDENT OF 2575 KANSAS.
I'M ADJACENT TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER THE HUMAN FACTOR.
I'M PLEASED WITH THIS DECISION.
I THINK IF MAKING THE FACILITY SLIGHTLY LARGER, BUT KEEPING THIS STILL AT ONE STORY LEVEL MEANS NURSE CAN HAVE LUNCH ROOM.
THIS PEOPLE SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, OR ANOTHER PATIENT CAN BE TREATED.
[01:15:02]
I THINK I CAN, AS A RESIDENT, DEAL WITH IT.I THINK THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A ZERO-SUM GAME.
I APPRECIATE YOU WHEN YOU TOOK THE DISCUSSION THAT THESE PEOPLE CAN MAKE FACILITY THAT THE STAFF FRIENDLY AND PATIENT-FRIENDLY, BUT THE RESIDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM IT AS WELL, SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ESPECIALLY MR. BILL MCCONNELL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I THINK THE CONDITION HE PUT IN WAS MUSIC TO MY EARS.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD CONDITION.
THAT'S MAKES KANSAS ROAD FRIENDLY TO PEDESTRIANS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE QUITE FRIENDLY IMPROVEMENT FROM WHAT IT IS TODAY BECAUSE IT'S HORRIBLE.
PEOPLE DRIVE INTO THE POWER TOOL FACILITY AND IT'S A MIX OF CARS AND PEOPLE ON THAT ROAD, SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THAT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO FURTHER LOOK FOR WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS.
I THINK THE SAND WALL IS A GREAT IDEA.
I THINK IT JUST REQUIRES A LOT MORE INPUT FROM THE RESIDENTS AND THE EXPERTS.
I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER SOLID IMPROVEMENT INTO THIS PROJECT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HOPE TO SPEAK NEXT TIME.
>> SHE'S MY WIFE'S. SHE WENT TO RESTROOM. I WILL [INAUDIBLE]
>> OKAY. VERY GOOD. THEN ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC REMARKS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC REMARKS AND MOVE TO OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS ADJOURNMENT.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL, SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER CORDILL.
>> ANY OPPOSED? THEN THE MEETING STAND ADJOURNED AT 16:00 PM.
>> JULY 26 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HAS JUST ADJOURNED.
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE MEETING.
THE MAIN TOPIC OF TONIGHT WAS THE APPROVAL SLASH DISAPPROVAL OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A SPARROW EMERGENCY ROOM NUMBER 21070.
REQUEST FOR THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT WAS A PROVED BY A SIT TO TWO VOTE WITH AMENDMENTS FOR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, AS WELL AS A SOUND BARRIER OR MOTION FOR DENIAL WAS REQUESTED AND THEN VOTED ON AND FAILED.
LEADERS FROM SPARROW REPRESENTATIVES WERE ON HAND TO TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT IN FRONT OF THE BOARD FOR NEARLY 45 MINUTES.
THEY ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT PARKING AND FUNCTIONALITY AS WELL AS NOISE COMPLAINTS BY THE RESIDENTS.
TUNING TO THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION ON JULY 9TH, ON AUGUST 9TH RATHER.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? CONTACT US AT HOMTV.NET, 5173491232.
I AM LOGAN SELLA, ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE HERE AT HOMTV, THANKS FOR LISTENING.
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. [BACKGROUND]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.