A Naperville doctor hopes to build a fertility center in the city’s downtown.

Planning and zoning commissioners signed off Wednesday night on the plan for a two-story facility at the northwest corner of Washington Street and Benton Avenue that could open in the fall of 2013.

“Would I have liked to have seen a more traditional business in downtown? Yes,” Commissioner Greg Bruno said. “However, I think the facility is a big plus. I think it will fit nicely over the years and it’s a great addition to the downtown look.”

Dr. Randy Morris a licensed physician specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, said he wants to open a “world class” facility that would serve patients from around the suburbs, many of whom now have to drive to Chicago for treatments. He also is in negotiations to bring Chinese nationals to the facility for treatments they are not allowed to receive in their native country.

Morris said one in every six or seven couples experiences infertility issues and his clinic would provide services such as fertility medications, insemination, in-vitro fertilization and surgical procedures like unblocking fallopian tubes.

The state granted Morris a certificate of need for the facility last fall.

City staff on Wednesday told plan commission members the building’s height and proposed use as a medical facility comply with the city’s zoning codes. However, it does deviate regarding parking, signage and setback from the road.

City regulations require the facility to have 11 parking spaces. Morris has asked to pay a fee to the city to use 11 spaces in the Van Buren parking garage across the street. Suzanne Thorsen from the city’s planning services team said there are plenty of open spaces during the daytime hours when the clinic will be open. She also said a traffic study did not give staff a cause for concern despite the facility’s downtown location.

Three residents spoke out against the plan Wednesday. John Scanlon expressed concern about the building’s height and lack of on-site parking said it “will not preserve the small-town character of downtown.”

Dr. Richard Pugliese said the facility will add to the traffic congestion in the downtown and some people in the community oppose the fertility procedures that would be performed within walking distance of three schools.

“I suspect that this facility could cause significant irritation and opposition among those families as they strive to retain at least a little bit of innocence and latency in their children’s educational and maturational processes,” he said.

Several commissioners said they would have anticipated a more traditional use like a restaurant or store to fill the lot, but use as a medical facility complies with city zoning codes and they welcome the diversity. Many also complimented the facility’s design.

Commissioner Patty Gustin called it a “very nicely designed building, very professional and polished looking.” She expressed initial concerns about traffic but said she would trust staff’s analysis that it would not be an issue.

Commissioner Robert Williams said the project is a “marvelous development on a very difficult lot” and that while controversial to some, fertility treatment is becoming more common in today’s society.

“It is more often than not a centerpoint for positive vibrations amongst the patients, and what better place to have a major facility than in our downtown,” he said.

Commissioners approved the plan with a 9-0 vote. It will now go to the City Council for final approval.