ATLAS TOWNSHIP- After more than two years, the Atlas Township Planning Commission has OK’d a site plan for a convent on Coolidge Road just west of Washburn Road.
Queen of All Saints convent and Mary Help of Christians Academy have plans to build a 21,670 square foot facility that will house 25 nuns and teach up to 80 students in grades K-8 from Genesee, Oakland and possibly other counties. There are no restrictions on the location a student may come from in private school systems. The chapel seats 123 people, including the 25 nuns. They are never to surpass 80 students.
In August 2001, a conditional use permit was granted, followed by a site plan approval in September of 2001. A conditional use permit states that the township can give certain discretions where they see necessary, such as the size of the structure, how much noise will be created and how big it can be.
In February, some members of the Queen of All Saints convent made plans to make a presentation at the scheduled Atlas Township Planning Commission meeting, but did not attend. The meeting was tabled and planners were expected at the next meeting.
At the March 19, 2003 meeting, a site plan was approved but was different than the original because the architect exceeded the allotted budget and changes were made and now needed new approval. The budget was exceeded by twice the amount, so the convent replaced the architect and hired Bruce Calhoun, of Creekwood Associates in Burton to carry on the process appropriately.
Some of the changes made to the site plan include going from a two story structure to one, and will not include a steeple or a bell tower. Major concerns from citizens in the area, especially on Coolidge Road, was the every hour on the hour bell tolling.
“The people really did not want to hear that every day. They made an attempt to voice that at every meeting they could,” said Rick Misek, Atlas Planning Commission trustee.
“The bells will still ring, but will ring internally and can’t be heard unless you’re standing right next to them.”
The architect must now submit a traffic study within a month to the Building Department, to appease the residents near the convent and by order of the planning commission. The convent will go through a series of inspections, and then may proceed with the construction.