Not to mention being handy for our areas veterans.
By http://www.ohio-share.coxnewsweb.com/incoming/ryan-gauthier-305962.html - Ryan Gauthier , Staff Writer 9:22 PM Wednesday, January 13, 2010
MIDDLETOWN — Planning Commission members stuck to the city’s zoning requirements Wednesday night, Jan. 13, approving a Veterans Affairs medical center without a pair of heavily-debated variances.
The commission approved the medical center on a 4-1 vote, but declined to grant variances allowing a smoking shelter and Dumpster to remain on the northern side of the development.
Planning Director Marty Kohler said he felt the commission could potentially have been setting a dangerous precedent by granting variances without proper justification.
“I still believe it’s simply a design challenge with respect to the smoking shed and Dumpster,” Kohler said. “In my opinion they need to get creative in figuring out where to put (them).”
The 18,670-square-foot medical office building will occupy a 3.83-acre lot in 4300 block of Union Road, approximately 100 feet south of the Inn at Renaissance Village.
Commission members approved a combined preliminary and final development plan for the center with several modifications: relocating commercial trash containers and a smoking shelter to the west side of the building; the construction of temporary access to Union Road until it is widened; and mounding and landscaping along the east side of the property will be confined to a 15-foot strip between the parking lot and right-of-way.
Commission member Tony Marconi said he thought the group was “doing the right thing” by not granting any variances for the development.
“I don’t want to hold the project up, so to me this is the best solution tonight,” Marconi said. “We’re saying we’ll approve it with the developer putting the trash and smoking areas someplace else.”
Ann Lubbers, design associate with developer Al Neyer, said relocating the Dumpster and smoking hut to the west property line could force them to expand the site by purchasing neighboring space. Additionally, she said the move would encroach on a planned access point and could create an eyesore for neighboring businesses.
“It would eliminate some of the connectivity of this whole development,” Lubbers said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or rgauthier@coxohio.com.
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