A request to establish a veterinary service on Seventh Avenue South in the City had Council considering an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw at its regular meeting Monday.
The matter was before Council for a second time after City administration was contacted by a veterinarian who operates an animal health centre and is looking to purchase and relocate from a neighbouring rural municipality to within the City, explained Carleen Koroluk, Land Use Planner with the City at Monday’s regular meeting of Council.
“The applicant has found what she believes to be a suitable location in the C-1 City Centre zoning district where she is proposing to provide in-patient care to small animals and retail sales including medications and animal supplies,” she said.
As such, under suggestion from Planning Services, the applicant has submitted an application to amend the Zoning Bylaw to allow for consideration of veterinary uses within the entire C-1 City Centre zoning district, said Koroluk.
The amendment was presented to Council at the Aug.10 meeting at which time Council approved first reading and authorized Public Notice.
Monday Council passed second and third reading, which allowed Council to then look at the discretionary use request specifically.
“The applicant proposes to provide on-site veterinary services to small animals, including indoor, overnight accommodation and the sale of products related to veterinary services for all animals. Large animal ambulatory services will only be provided on an off-site, or farm call, basis and onsite clinical facilities will be limited to patients less than 250 pounds. There will be no keeping of animals in outdoor pens at the location,” explained Koroluk.
“The applicant currently operates an existing animal health centre with a staff complement of four full time employees in a neighbouring rural municipality and she is looking to relocate to within the City. The business has been in operation since 2009 when it was purchased from the previous owner who operated the veterinary clinic since 1975.”
The proposed location at 39 Seventh Avenue South has been vacant for some time, with the last active Business Licence being issued in 2018.
“The applicant is proposing exterior cosmetic improvements including painting and signage, as well as interior renovations including exam rooms, surgery facilities, housing for patients, retail sales areas as well as office and staff spaces,” said Koroluk.
“The site includes sufficient on-site parking space for the loading and unloading of small animals and is neighboured by a number of compatible, low impact uses including automotive service and supplies, retail sales, and office space, in addition to another animal care facility.”
In the end Council was unanimous in authorizing Administration to proceed with Public Notification for Discretionary Use application.
