New medical building gets approvals for go-ahead

By Dana Casadei

The Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees voted 7-0 on Monday, May 2,2 in favor of a site plan for Bloomfield Vein and Vascular, PLLC at 43572 Woodward Avenue.

Paul Lewsley of Environmental Engineers, Inc., who is the engineer on this project, spoke with the board, as did Andrea Bibby, deputy director of planning, building and ordinance.

“We’re very happy to finally be before you and finally get this project moving,” Lewsley said.

The board seemed happy too, with many complementing the design of both the building and the surrounding landscape. 

Plans for the 10,611-square-foot, one-story medical office building include 61 parking spots for patients, with four barrier-free spots, which complies with the township’s zoning ordinance. The site plan also included a six-foot walkway that will provide access from the existing safety path along Woodward to the building, where a canopy overhead will be built for drop-off and pick-up.

The building plan showed it will utilize brick, metal coping, “woodlook” aluminum panels, and CMU block in its design, and have a variety of vegetation being offered, such as along Woodward Avenue to give the building a nice appearance from the road and trees in the parking lot.

“The applicate did an extraordinary job finding a property that would be able to accommodate their needs,” Bibby said. 

Bloomfield Township’s engineering and environmental services department’s only comment was that upon approval from the board of trustees, and prior to the issue of any building permits, they must provide a draft storm water sewer easement.

A draft storm water sewer assessment has already been acquired by the owners. 

This plan was approved by the Bloomfield Township Design Review Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, the later of which granted the owners one variance with this project at their April 11 meeting. Thee variance is required for trees planted within 10 feet of a utility line, as this plan has some trees located within eight feet of an already existing utility line on the property.

Under the 2007 Master Plan for Future Land Use, reaffirmed in 2022, this particular parcel is recommended to be used for office, which it would be with this site plan, and the medical office use is a permitted use in the O-1 District.