Aldermen Table Request For Zoning Change

City officials tabled a request for a special exemption from John Burnett to utilize a Main Street building for a veterinarian’s office. The property is currently zoned central business commercial, which does not allow a vet’s office.

The matter surfaced during the monthly Board of Aldermen meeting held July 5 after planning commissioners discussed the request last month and passed it to the Board of Aldermen.. Multiple aldermen had questions about the business, prompting the delay.

Property owner J. Clayton Peacock shared the terms of the tentative lease on the building located at 408 North Main Street with Burnett during last week’s city board meeting. The terms include a three-year maximum period that the building will be utilized as a vet’s office, along with restricting service to only small animals. Peacock also explained that the business will house some animals overnight if additional treatment is necessary and the property including space outside the building where animals may pass will be kept clean.

Ward Three alderman Cinnamon Foster questioned the number of animals that could be housed overnight, along with the maximum size of animals that will be treated at the facility. She also asked if adjoining property owners had been notified of the potential exemption, a question shared by Ward One Alderman Kagan Coughlin.

“I want to be really careful when we are talking about exceptions to our zoning. Everyone is tip-toeing around zoning issues right now, so I would like the people that are most immediately impacted,” Coughlin said.

After more discussion Alderman-at-large Donald Gray recommended tabling the request.

“First of all, I don’t think it is going to pass. I am business friendly but maybe we need more information,” Gray said. “I love animals, too,” the veteran alderman added.

Mayor Larry Hart said the request for more information will be passed back to the planning commissioners and alderman would revisit the issue at a later meeting.