CVS Pharmacy's efforts to open a new location on the site of the former Parma Theatre is closer to fruition.
Parma's zoning board granted the company's request for a variance on that date. The next step is for the city council to pass the variance, and council members have 40 days to consider the request.
CVS's attorney, Anthony Coyne, said the store will generate about $25,000 for the city annually in tax revenues, and could create about 20 new jobs. He went on to say that the company has worked with residents and city officials, and the new pharmacy should have only minimal impact on nearby residential areas. Coyne's remarks are in response to residents' concerns about the store's 24-hours-per-day schedule, an active drive-thru at the pharmacy, and a noisy trash compactor.
Sean Brennan, president of the city council, noted that the Parma Theatre site has been vacant for 25 years, and CVS is the first business to try and locate there. He believes it is in the interest of everyone to allow the pharmacy to proceed. If the city council passes the variance, the mayor's planning commission will have final approval on the project.
Since the issue is causing residents some anxiety, city officials might work with a flyer printing company to create a mailer explaining the advantages of having CVS take over the site.
