by Dorothy Markulis
Reporter
Hudson -- Lack of adequate parking could have caused Akron Children's Hospital Physician Associates to vacate its Corporate Drive location, but planning commission members gave the company a different option July 14.
The planning commission unanimously approved the site plan for a 2,420-square-foot addition for Akron Children's Hospital Physician Associates at 1365 Corporate Drive. The addition would house a pediatric practice and include 42 additional parking spots.
The addition would bring the facility to 7,617 square feet.
Paul Testa, who partially owns the building that Akron Children's Hospital Physicians Associates leases, said the group of four practicing physicians and eight support personnel would move if it was not permitted to expand.
He said Children's Physician Associates' 10-year lease on the property has expired.
Planning commission vice-chairperson Jennifer Barone said she was glad the facility would stay in Hudson.
A letter from Lester Sherman, vice president for practice management for Children's Physician Associates, said the company needed additional parking and space to add an additional pediatric practice, which would move to the site by September.
According to Sherman, the group was operating on a month-to-month lease since the lease expired Feb. 28.
Sherman said Children's Physician Associates will "definitely" be signing a new lease once the addition is approved.
City Planner Mark Richardson said the board of zoning appeals must approve two variances before the project can begin.
The planning staff report indicated buildings in District 8 must be separated by at least 50 feet. Testa's plan would reduce the separation between the nearest building to 28 feet. In addition, a 50-foot buffer of landscaping is required on Darrow Road. The new parking spaces would reduce that distance to 30 feet.
The planning commission approved the site plan, providing the board of zoning appeals approves the variances at its July 17 meeting.
E-mail: dmarkulis@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3143