County planners back parking lot expansion for Oak Orchard Health in Medina

Planners recommend Kendall approve farmworker housing for Herberle Farms

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board recommended the Village of Medina approve a variance to allow for a bigger parking lot for Oak Orchard Health at 911 West Center St.

The board on Thursday evening also recommended the Town of Kendall approve the site plan and permit for farmworker housing at 17288 Lakeshore Rd.

Oak orchard Health opened a healthcare center in June 2022 at the former office for Dr. Surinder Bath, a Medina physician for nearly 47 years. He retired in September 2021.

The office currently has eight parking spaces. Oak Orchard wants to expand the lot by seven feet to the east, which would then allow it to have 14 spaces. Two of those spots would be designated as handicapped accessible.

Medina’s code requires a 10-foot setback to a property line for a parking lot. Oak Orchard would need a 7-foot variance to expand the lot and only have a 3-foot buffer to the neighboring property line, where there is a privacy fence.

County Planning Board member Gary Daum of Lyndonville stated his support for the variance saying it would allow Oak orchard to better serve the community, and help patients to park closer to the building, especially those with mobility challenges.

Oak Orchard is hoping to have the expanded parking lot done in the spring.

In Kendall, Heberle Farms is working to establish farmworker housing at 17288 Lakeshore Rd., near the Monroe-Orleans Countyline Road.

The property is outside the agricultural district so the housing requires a permit and site plan review from the town. Joe Heberle, the farm owner, told the Planning Board he will apply to have the property go in the ag district during the review process later this year beginning in July.

Heberle Farms has expanded recently, acquiring 100 more acres while also planting more high-density orchards. Heberle said he needs more farmworkers to bring in a crop of 200,000 bushels of apples.

A smaller double-wide structure would first be used for five or six farmworkers, Heberle said. The Orleans County Health Department will determine the maximum number of workers that can stay there in an upcoming inspection.

A larger brick house will likely be a two-year renovation effort, Heberle said. Bruce Newell, a Planning Board member from Kendall, said town officials are pleased to see the brick building getting attention.

Heberle said the farmworker housing will be used from May to November.