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Commission conditions Ocean Avenue NEMS clinic approval on ground-floor pharmacy to activate storefront
Summary
Planning commissioners approved a conditional use authorization for a large Northeast Medical Services clinic at 1441 Ocean Avenue provided the project include a ground-floor pharmacy component to activate the street; staff noted thousands of petition signatures in support and merchants requested further outreach.
The Planning Commission approved a conditional use authorization for Northeast Medical Services to open a new clinic at 1441 Ocean Avenue, with a key condition: the commission required the sponsor to incorporate a ground-floor pharmacy or similar active use.
Staff presented the project as a multi-floor clinic with primary-care services, health education space, and a vertical addition and expansion of a ground-floor storefront. "The proposed project will increase access to primary care medical services to residents in the neighborhood as well as citywide," staff said, noting more than 2,700 signatures and additional letters in support.
Ocean Avenue advocates urged staff and sponsor to prioritize ground-floor activation to combat loss of retail along the corridor. "Out of the 2,500 square feet proposed on the ground floor, we suggested setting aside 500 square feet for an active use," a community benefits district representative told the commission. Commissioners discussed moving the clinic's pharmacy to grade to increase pedestrian activation; sponsor said the pharmacy primarily serves clinic patients but could be configured on the ground floor.
The commission voted 6'to— to approve the project with the ground-floor pharmacy condition; the sponsor agreed to explore configurations to accommodate the change.
