Potential sale of OCC campus garners attention

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP/WEST BLOOMFIELD — Oftentimes, decisions at the local government level are made without a lot of fanfare.

However, a recent decision by the Waterford Township Board of Trustees has gotten the attention of local residents.

At a meeting May 28, the township’s Board of Trustees approved the proposed purchase of the southern portion of Oakland Community College’s Highland Lakes campus, with the intent of repurposing it for a future recreation and community center. The decision was approved 5-1, with Trustee Janet Matsura being the lone vote against the purchase.

At press time, Matsura had not replied to opportunities to comment about the reason for her decision.

On May 21, OCC’s Board of Trustees approved the sale of the property to Waterford Township, according to a press release from OCC.

Waterford Township agreed to purchase 51 acres of the southern portion of OCC’s Highland Lakes campus for $2.8 million. The campus is located at 7350 Cooley Lake Road.

The sale is contingent on Waterford Township passing a bond proposal that is set to be on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. The bond would raise funds for the improvement and renovation of the property, according to information on the township’s website.

“Our current community center has seen its better years, and we’ve outgrown it, so we looked at the 51 acres of property and the two building there that would fit our needs – the athletic building and the student center building – that we can turn into offices and rooms and stuff like that,” said Waterford Township Supervisor Gary Wall.

According to Wall, recreation activities at the site could include a pickleball court, a softball field and a dog park.

“Lots of different things,” he said.

Although the exact language of the bond proposal has yet to be posted on Oakland County’s website, according to Wall, the proposal is not to exceed $36,410,000.

Wall acknowledged that the purchase hinges on whether or not the bond proposal passes.

“It’s contingent on that, but I feel good about it,” he said. “People are excited. We have no current debt at the township – none. … We have no bonds, nothing’s financed, everything’s paid for.. … It’s less than $100 per average household.”

As for OCC, the college intends to move the Highland Lakes campus’ health sciences programs to its Orchard Ridge campus in Farmington Hills in the fall of 2026.

According to the release, the Orchard Ridge campus will house all of the college’s health sciences disciplines in a new, “state-of-the-art” building.

“OCC supports the Township’s efforts as they explore the feasibility of a future recreation and community center,” OCC Chancellor Peter Provenzano Jr. stated in the release. “The College’s priority is for the Highland Lakes property to continue to provide great community value, enhance quality of life and meet the needs of local residents.”

The release further stated that, “OCC is not considering other offers in order to stay focused on this priority.”

According to Wall, OCC will not start moving out of its Highland Lakes campus until the end of the 2025 school year. If things move forward with the purchase agreement, he estimated that the project would take approximately 15-18 months after OCC’s move-out date, which could take place between January and December of 2026.

Wall said that OCC is going to “sell everything,” but thus far only has a purchase agreement with Waterford Township.

Although West Bloomfield resident Nancy Croitori supports Waterford’s decision to purchase the southern portion of OCC’s Highland Lakes campus, she does have some concerns.

One of those concerns is what will happen with the northern acreage of the campus.

“There are precious woodlands, nature trails and a reserve that we would like to be preserved as greenspace,” Croitori said. “We have seen plans where that could be developed.”

Given that Waterford Township’s purchase offer is contingent on the bond proposal passing, there is also concern that the development could impact the entire campus.

“If the bond proposal fails, the entire 160 acres could become a gigantic development,” Croitori stated in an email. “OCC will be the one to decide.”

Croitori isn’t the only one who has considered the potential impact if development occurs on the property.

Waterford resident David St. Dennis spoke during the public comments portion of the Board of Trustees meeting May 28. He said that he lives about 100 yards from the campus.

“My friend and I just came back from walking; we go up the long hill and we go back through these woods – 100-year oaks and everything; it’s beautiful,” St. Dennis said. “To cut those down or do anything to damage that preserve would be a crime. I don’t know of any other (strand) of oaks and great trees in Waterford as this. … I want to see that preserved.”

Provenzano responded to some questions via email. He addressed concerns that the north end of the campus could be sold for commercial development.

“OCC is taking the interests and concerns of the community into consideration alongside our intent to seek the preservation of significant open space and wetlands at the Highland Lakes campus,” Provenzano stated. “The amount of future open space will be a critical factor in selecting a buyer. … It is OCC’s intent to preserve significant open space and wetlands including considerations to connect Hess Hathaway Park, the trail system, and the proposed Township Community Center. The College is interested in finding prospective buyers who are committed to preserving the land and ensuring it continues to provide great community value, enhance quality of life, and meet the needs of residents.”

Provenzano also added that, “At this time, OCC is committed to focusing its attention on the southern portion of the campus and support of the Waterford Township millage and is not considering other offers in order to stay focused on this priority.”

According to the email statement, the entire Highland Lakes campus is roughly 157 acres.

Waterford resident Arthur Frasca also spoke during public comments.

“I believe that is the last opportunity in this area for a piece of land that big, and doing everything we can to try and get it for Waterford is the right thing to do,” he said. “I (want to) commend you on the OCC thing. The public will have a voice in that. They vote in November, so they can turn down the bond issue, if in fact they don’t like it.”

From Croitori’s perspective, potential commercial  development could also directly impact West Bloomfield residents.

“West Bloomfield residents directly across the street … will be affected by light pollution, traffic, (and) probably loss in value of their property, being right across the street from commercial development,” she said. “We’re not in favor of that commercial carveout. We would prefer Waterford purchased all of that.”

Although some residents may be concerned about a potential increase in traffic if the property is developed, according to Wall, the Road Commission for Oakland County is going to conduct a traffic study to determine if an extra lane needs to be added to Cooley Lake Road. From his perspective, potential  traffic issues would be situational.

“There are times, like at the beginning of the day when people are going to work, (and) the end of the day, when people are coming home from work – there’s traffic jams, obviously, but it’s not like that 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Wall said. “It won’t be constant heavy traffic.”

Wall is of the opinion that gaining control of the southern portion of OCC’s Highland Lakes campus has the potential to benefit the township for decades to come.

“I hope that the people are on board with this and (want to) take this opportunity to retain 51 acres of greenspace,” he said.