OKEMOS, MI - During the August 3rd Township Board meeting, the Board approved the request for special use permit #21070 by Sparrow Health Services for construction of greater than 25,000 square feet. The permit will be used for the building of a new emergency room and family physician's practice near the intersection of Kansas and Jolly Road.

The special use permit was originally scheduled as only a discussion item for the evening’s meeting, but the Board agreed to suspend prior agenda rules, and motioned for the permit to become an action item during the meeting. It was then motioned to pass approval, and did so 6-1 in favor.

The Sparrow permit was last in front of Township officials at a July 27 Planning Commission meeting, where it passed with a 6-2 vote, pending three conditions brought forward by the Commission, including pedestrian and vehicle access on Kansas Road, as well as access into the site from the Wood Lake entrance.

Sparrow representatives were present at both the July 27 Planning Commission meeting, and the August 3 Township Board meeting, and agreed to the previously approved conditions, allowing the Board to go forward and vote on the permit.

Sparrow Senior Vice President Thomas Bres was on hand, and spoke before the Board to clarify any misunderstandings: “We are comfortable with the conditions...throughout the process, there’s been pros and cons about access [on Kansas Road]. It sounds like there is stronger sentiment to not have it, and we’re comfortable with that.”

The special use permit was originally slated to be a discussion item for the August 3rd meeting, and then voted on for action during a joint conference with the Township Board and Planning Commission on August 9th. The meeting between the two parties will now still take place, but will not be televised.

Subsequent steps for the project will now include the acquisition of site plan approval, which will come in front of the Township Board next month, before beginning construction.