The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) voted at its June 28 meeting to support the Brookside Community Health Center’s request to add 15 parking spaces to its 51-space parking lot that runs along Ackley Place.

The council approval followed JPNC Zoning Committee approval of the proposal earlier this month. Zoning Committee chair David Baron told the Gazette that the Brookside had been planning the parking expansion since 2005.

“It is not being proposed in conjunction with any expansion of service, expansion of mission or change in the mission. It is just that the center felt that it needed extra parking and it has the money to do it,” Baron said.

A representative from the health center at 3297 Washington St. told the council at the June 28 meeting that pedestrian access would be maintained to the Flaherty Playground, which abuts the proposed new parking area.

Baron said Brookside officials reported that trees on the site that have been removed recently were “unhealthy and had to come down,” but will be replaced.

Gazette calls to Brookside were not returned by press time.