Planners approve revised parking for library expansion

Avon Planning Commission voted Sept. 15 to scale down the parking plan for the expansion of the Lorain Public Library System’s Avon Branch.

Avon Economic Development Director Pam Fechter said the site was short a few parking spaces and the city was working through an agreement with surrounding business.

However, due to unforeseen circumstances, this was unable to be achieved Fechter said.

Under city code, she said the Avon Branch, located at 37485 Harvest Drive, normally would require 156 spaces.

But due to the circumstances, the applicant requested a plan consisting of 101 parking spaces, Fechter said.

In speaking with the architect on the project, she relayed the city’s feelings that the parking plan was sufficient, and any more parking would have a detrimental effect on the historic French Creek district.

Jason Nolde, of GPD Group, said in a review of the numbers and other libraries in Northeast Ohio, that the parking plan provided a good balance for Avon’s needs.

“Based on our calculations, we’re about 228 square feet per parking space, so we’re providing more than what our neighbors are doing in terms of parking for libraries,” Nolde said. “And so, we feel like …being within the French Creek district trying to maximize how much green space that we can, I think this is a good balance for this particular project.”

The Avon Branch broke ground Aug.10 on a 16,000-square-foot expansion that will double the size of the structure.

The $9 million project is funded by a 20-year 2-mill levy that is set to raise $1.9 million annually.

The expanded library will total 26,867 square feet, up from the present facility which is about 10,000 square feet, bringing the library in line with the needs of the Avon community, library officials said.

Design plans have the expanded library featuring a reading garden, a driveup window and aesthetics aimed at blending in with Avon’s historic French Creek district.

The interior of the building will have expanded meeting room capacities, technology upgrades and a dedicated space for children and youth programming.

The library is to be completed next summer.