Lakewood Planning Commission Approves Neighborhood Pediatrics Parking Plan

The Lakewood Planning Commission met on July 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at 12650 Detroit Avenue, following a 5:30 p.m. pre-review meeting. The sole docket item was a parking plan review for Neighborhood Pediatrics at 16024 Madison Avenue, located in the C2 Commercial, General Retail district. The Commission approved the application with conditions and adjourned at 6:17 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• The Commission excused the absence of Vice Chair McDermott. The motion was made, seconded, and approved unanimously.
• The minutes of the June 5, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously with no discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public attended. The Commission waived the public comment period because only the applicant was present.

Discussion Items

• Docket No. 07-25-25 — 16024 Madison Ave. Michael Daso of Daso Properties, the property owner, requested review and approval of a parking lot plan for the former Lothair Center/Senior Citizen Center, which has been vacant and is in disrepair. He noted the existing pavement lines have deteriorated and estimated the lot currently has about 20 to 22 spaces. The proposal would repave and reconfigure the lot to provide 23 off-street spaces. The applicant originally included three on-street spaces, but the city advised those could not be counted because the area is marked as a loading zone. Mr. Daso asked that the plan be approved with the 23 on-site spaces.
• City staff review. Staff reported the office use is 12,906 square feet, which requires a minimum of 26 off-street parking spaces under Chapter 1143. The plan provides 23 spaces. Staff identified 38 public off-street spaces in municipal lot number nine, located approximately 800 feet from the property entrance, within the 1,000-foot pedestrian route allowance that can be credited under the exceptions to required minimums. Given that exception and the improvement from roughly 22 to 23 spaces, staff stated no objection to approval, subject to commission consideration and possible conditions.
• Northland construction coordination. Staff noted the Northland water main project is scheduled from July 2025 to July 2026 and will include curb bump-outs and other changes. Coordination with city engineering will be needed because the work may affect parking and markings near the site.
• Applicant operations testimony. Amy Daso, owner of Neighborhood Pediatrics, stated the practice will occupy most of the building, employs about 12 to 15 people daily, sees roughly 5 to 8 patient units per appointment slot, and operates approximately 8 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. She also stated that up to 40% of patients are from Lakewood and that many walk or ride bikes.
• Commission discussion on curb cuts. A commissioner asked that the un-dimensioned curb cut on Northland be limited to a maximum 16-foot width to match the dimensioned 16-foot curb cut on Madison, with matching landscaping. City staff advised that the city will replace the curb and apron as part of the Northland project at city cost, likely in spring 2026, and recommended the applicant not do work on that apron until after April 2026 while coordinating with the city.

Key Outcomes

• The Commission approved Docket No. 07-25-25 with conditions. The applicant must coordinate with the City of Lakewood on the pending Northland work, limit the Northland curb cut to a 16-foot maximum width, match the landscaping, and clearly define roles and responsibilities for the work elements. The motion was seconded, all commissioners voted in favor, and no opposition was voiced. The meeting was adjourned at 6:17 p.m.