BUTLER TWP — Commissioners rejected the recommendation of the township’s planning commission Monday, deciding to add a zoning overlay to property on Lions Road.

The move paves the way for Cedarwood Development of Akron, Ohio, to build a medical complex featuring a Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic.

The planning commission in January voted to recommend that the commissioners reject an institutional zoning overlay to the Boccie property.

Board chairman Joe Hasychak and Commissioner Ben Simon both said because the township had recently approved an institutional overlay for the Deshon Woods, owned by the township, they were afraid the township could face legal action if they did not grant the same overlay for the Boccie property.

“Legal action would be too expensive for the township, so I have to go against the planning commission,” Hasychak said.

He said the planning commission was against the overlay because of complaints made by other residents on Lions Road.

The institutional overlay does not change the 30 acres of agricultural zoning, but it would allow buildings such as hospitals or doctors’ offices to be built on the property.

The Boccie property, which is at what would be the northern end of the Routes 422-356 cloverleaf exchange if it had been completed by the state Department of Transportation, is one of three site finalists for a new Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic. VA Butler Healthcare is looking for someone to build the outpatient clinic and then the VA will lease it from the builder. VA is looking for a 180,000-square-foot clinic, but Cedarwood plans to build a 240,000-square-foot facility with parking for 1,000 vehicles.

Randall Hake, Cedarwood Development’s director of development, was unavailable for comment Tuesday, and the status of the VA’s pick is unknown.

Hasychak told planning commission Vice President Sam Zurzolo that he appreciates the work the commission did.

“I hope you all understand that we just can’t have any legal action on this. Too expensive for the township residents,” Hasychak said.

Zurzolo said he would pass the message on to the other commission members.