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Zoning board approves Wright Center clinic at 1721 North Main with fence and access conditions
Summary
After presentations and public support, the board approved variances for the Wright Center’s proposed 4,400 sq ft clinic at 1721 North Main, including reduced parking and setback relief, subject to conditions such as a visual screen/fence to limit light intrusion and coordination with fire and PennDOT on access.
The Scranton Zoning Hearing Board voted to grant multiple variances for the Wright Center’s proposed community clinic at 1721 North Main Ave., approving modest increases in impervious coverage, reductions in parking stall count and reductions to buffer/setback requirements, provided the applicant meets conditions including a fence or landscape screen to limit light intrusion and works with the fire department and PennDOT on access.
Patrick McClain of KSG Engineers, representing the Wright Center, said the new building would have about a 4,400-square-foot footprint with a first floor fitted for immediate use and an unfinished second floor. McClain said existing site conditions already exceed some ordinance requirements and that the proposal would improve conditions in other respects; he emphasized the applicant’s parking analysis and provided a comparison to bus- and walk‑dependent clinics the Wright Center operates elsewhere.
Dr. Jignesh Sheth, a physician and an executive with the Wright Center, described staffing and patient-flow expectations, saying the clinic currently sees roughly 15–20 patients a day and that the new facility could see about 20–25 patients per day at peak. “We’re anticipating 20 cars at the most at any given time,” Dr. Sheth said, adding that psychiatry services will be largely telehealth and that dental and medical visits are often combined.
Multiple employees and patients submitted written testimony and spoke in favor of the project. Jennifer Kalinowski, the North Scranton medical director, and Kara Seitzinger, the Wright Center’s executive director of public affairs, emphasized walk‑in and transit-dependent patients and the clinic’s role in neighborhood revitalization.
Board members acknowledged parking concerns but said the applicant’s operations and proposed conditions (including a fence to shield neighbors from lights and a plan for emergency access) were sufficient. The board approved the variances by recorded vote; officials directed Wright Center to produce a landscape/lighting plan, coordinate with emergency services on alley access and work with PennDOT on curb and sidewalk details as part of the land development and permitting process.
The board recorded the conditions in the minutes and approved the application 4–0.
