Kent CVS to Be Demolished, Rebuilt Larger with Drive-Thru

Kent's store will be demolished and rebuilt by the end of next year if all goes well for the pharmacy chain.

Representatives for CVS tabled site plans for the new building at Tuesday's Kent Planning Commission meeting after commission members raised concerns about the building's design, parking and site layout.

show demolition of the existing 10,810-square-foot store to build a new store with 13,600 square feet, dual drive-thrus and 60 parking spaces.

Jordan Berns, an attorney for Lakewood-based Zaremba Group, which is designing the project for CVS, said the project represents a $4 million investment in Kent by the pharmacy chain.

Commission chairman Sean Kaine criticized the plan because the building has a spartan, standard CVS design so close to Kent's downtown overlay district, where architectural guidelines are more strict.

Specifically, Kaine said the designs don't adhere to the city's land-use plan, which calls for projects to align with, and not substantially change, the character of the surrounding area. Kent's downtown overlay district stops at Summit Street — across from the CVS.

"The fact that there’s a line drawn doesn’t preclude someone from building a more aesthetically pleasing store," commission member Peter Paino said. "The community is doing everything in its power to turn the downtown around, and that turnaround has to do with, in most people’s opinion, aesthetically pleasing design principles from an architectural standpoint."

David Hartt, a planning consultant on the project for CVS, said the company's plans for the property are consistent with its commercial district zoning.

"The issue you’re raising tonight is a very common issue that comes up time and time again," Hartt said. "I understand the intention that you want that downtown to go as far south as you possibly can. But you’ve drawn that line at Summit Street."

After hearing the concerns, Berns asked to table the site plan vote until the commission's July 19 meeting.

"We’re happy to table ... to revisit some of the concerns you’ve raised," he said. "Both with respect to the building design and the landscape and layout of the design to see if we can address as many of your concerns as possible."

To make the project happen, CVS plans to buy two properties west of the store on Summit Street. The properties are 120 W. Summit St., owned by Mark J. Yohe, and 126 W. Summit St., which is owned by Robert Roe and Patricia Loretta, according to Portage County Auditor's Office records.

The company already has purchase agreements for the properties, according to a cover letter for the plans from the Zaremba Group.