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Commission approves Cook Children’s clinic in Midpark, rejects color restriction
Summary
The commission approved a PD‑118 amendment to allow a roughly 6,000‑sq‑ft Cook Children’s clinic in Midpark and granted variances for additional parking and the use of corporate blue in elevations after discussion about color compatibility with surrounding buildings.
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved an amendment to PD‑118 to permit a Cook Children’s medical clinic of about 6,000 square feet in the Midpark development, granting requested variances for parking and allowing corporate color elements in the elevations.
Staff described the request: the clinic would sit on about 1.6 acres in Midpark and the applicant requested 44 parking spaces (staff noted the PD’s maximum would otherwise be 19) and a variance to allow blue as an accent color on the elevations to match Cook Children’s corporate identity. Staff recommended approval, noting Cook Children’s uses different internal standards for clinic parking and branding.
Michael Smith, representing Cook Children’s, said the color palette on his organization’s buildings tends to be cream/gray with blue peaks and that certain design elements (the three peaked entrance) are used consistently across Cook Children’s facilities to help visitors locate the entrance. He said the organization is open to using earth‑tone accents where appropriate but wants to retain branding elements that patients and families recognize.
A representative of the Midpark ownership (broker Kim Wiens) spoke in favor of Cook Children’s joining the development. Several commissioners urged the applicant to provide material samples and to pursue a palette that better integrates with existing Midpark buildings; however, one commissioner noted that the applicant’s building type and brand carry functional value for a children’s clinic. After debate, the commission approved the amendment and the variances 5–1, with one commissioner dissenting over aesthetic concerns. Staff will work with the applicant on final materials and submit samples for staff review before construction.
