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Historic district gets veterinary clinic
(by Sue Reid - August 31, 2011)
Historic district gets veterinary clinic
By SUE REID
A vacant building in Solon's historic district will soon be occupied by a veterinary clinic.
Solon's planning commission approved a site plan last week for Bharet and Indu Khemsara, who are looking to establish a veterinary office in the city's historic business district on Bainbridge Road. The site, which has been vacant for some time, had been occupied by Anthony's Beauty Salon.
"This use is compatible with the type of uses in the historic district," Solon Planning Director Robert S. Frankland said. "We're pleased to have the building occupied."
It is zoned C-1, historic commercial.
The applicants requested that proposed alterations relating to two distinct project phases be reviewed and approved by the commission.
Robert Martien, a Cleveland Heights architect who spoke to the commission on behalf of the applicants, said the veterinary clinic would be for dogs and cats. Immediate alterations would include a new concrete handicap access ramp, a new entry door and a dog exercise area with a decorative aluminum fence, he said.
Mr. Martien said the dogs will require an exercise area where they can be taken out under supervision, and plans are for that to be located in the parking lot at the rear of the building. That area would be 15 by 18 feet and include a 6-foot-high fence. An arched metal canopy is proposed to be over the rear entrance door, he said.
An enclosed Dumpster and decorative metal fence along the east side property line and rear property line of the lot was also proposed as part of initial alterations.
Commission member William M. Mazur said he wanted to make certain the dog exercise area was not something in which the dogs would be housed outside, as kennels are a prohibited use under the city's zoning code, primarily due to nuisance issues related to noise.
Mr. Martien said they understood that, and it would just be an outdoor exercise area.
The other fenced area, 4 feet in height, was proposed for the rear of the property because there is a lot of foot traffic in that area from the neighborhood behind it, Mr. Martien explained.
Mr. Frankland noted that there is more than enough parking under the code for the business even with the current and pending addition.
A later proposal, which would be phase two of the application, would involve alterations to be potentially made during the 2012 construction season. That would include a 500-square-foot addition to the rear of the structure. As part of this proposal, the outdoor dog exercise area and rear building canopy would be relocated along the new rear elevation, and a new door and awning would be located on the east side elevation.
Mr. Frankland said that the city's architect consultant has reviewed and approved the proposed phase two site alterations, and no variances are required to approve this proposal.
Mr. Martien said Dr. Khemsara has another practice in Newbury Township and recently closed one in Euclid. Plans are to move into the Solon location as soon as possible, he said.
The applicants are to appear before City Council Sept. 7.
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