Planners need more info on Beaumont proposal

Township planners need more information from Beaumont before even committing to a full site-plan evaluation. Beaumont needs to complete impact studies on the community, traffic, tax revenues, and qualifications for a Planned Unit Development before investing in a complete site plan, said Sam Moraco, Independence Township Planning Commission member at Thursday’s regular meeting. ‘This is […]

Planners pass keyholing ordinance back to trustees

The Independence Township Planning Commission was not impressed with the anti-keyholing ordinance referred to it by the Township Board. The commission voted unanimously Thursday to recommend denial of the ordinance. The Township Board will take the recommendation under advisement and and make the final decision about it at a future regular meeting. ‘This issue is […]

Rainy-day fund could save parks programs

With deficit problems in the 2007 budget, trustees are considering a dip into Independence Township’s savings. Among items discussed at the Jan. 9 budget workshop at Fire Station One was the idea of using the fund balance to save some programs lost to budget cuts. General-fund revenue is set at $6,047,830. This is $27,355 short […]

Phil in the blank

I had my first runaround this past week with Independence Township, regarding a request for a document. The document in question was a report by McLaren Health Corporation about projected tax revenues generated by their Sashabaw Road project. The Clarkston News and other newspapers wrote about it last month. McLaren has always said their project, […]

New ideas at Deer Lake Inn

Deer Lake Inn is under new management. It still doesn’t offer bed-and-breakfast services, but it does serve half-pound hamburgers. The Dixie Highway restaurant specializes in its burgers, and will soon add a quarter-pounder to its menu. ‘They serve the best burgers in town,? said a customer sitting at the bar this past Friday. ‘We’re known […]

Community leaders launch senior-center initiative

No lights, and no camera, but Independence Township saw a flurry of action when Senior Center Extreme Makeover debuted at last week’s Township Board meeting. The board officially launched a community-wide effort to redevelop a former school into a township senior center. ‘Extreme Make-over: Home Edition is one of my wife’s favorite shows,? said Tom […]

Planning Commission gives its final approval to McLaren project

The McLaren Health Village on Sashabaw Road is another step closer to reality. The Independence Township Planning Commission voted unanimously to grant its final approval to McLaren’s Planned Unit Development. The plan will now go to the Township Board with the commission’s recommendation for approval. The $600 million health-care campus will include medical office buildings, […]

Walking for life

Members and supporters of the North Oakland Right to Life commemorated the 34th anniversary of Roe v Wade this past Sunday with a life chain formed along Dixie Highway at White Lake Road. Passing motorists responded with honking horns and shouted exclamations, both in support and opposition. About 73 participants took part, said Mary Beth […]

McLaren hopes for spring start

McLaren Health Care is preparing for what it hopes is its final appearance before the Independence Township Planning Commission, for a while at least. At stake: a $600 million Health Care Village project on some of the last property left for development on Sashabaw Road. McLaren is on the Planning Commission’s Jan. 18 meeting agenda, […]

Township pay raises in limbo

Budget problems continued to disrupt Township business last week. Citing budgetary concerns, the Township Board voted unanimously Jan. 2 to table a salary proposal for elected and non-union employees. The proposal, submitted to the board by Supervisor David Wagner, includes a 2.5-percent pay raise for elected officials and 3-percent raise for non-union employees. The rate […]