New MP city ordinance could allow small animal veterinary clinics in general retail, service districts

The Mt. Pleasant City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance that would allow small animal veterinary clinics to be located in general retail and service districts in Mt. Pleasant.

The ordinance has provisions to 'guard against the negative effects of a veterinary clinic like barking dogs,” said Jack Swarm, Mt. Pleasant planning and zoning administrator during a city council meeting on Wednesday, June 12.

Swarm said a resident expressed interest in opening a veterinary clinic in town and was told they could only open one in a B-4 district, which are properties on the edge of town that are often larger and more expensive. Swarm came up with an ordinance that would allow small pet veterinary clinics in the B-3 districts, which is not downtown, but still within city limits.

The ordinance requires all animals to be boarded inside and when taken outside, put on a leash even if there is a fence. No outside kennels would be allowed.

'I and the planning and zoning committee are hopeful this would allow a use that would be good for our community,” Swarm said. 'It would get veterinary clinics closer to people and other businesses, but still protects against the negative impact a veterinary clinic may have.”

City council member Steve Engberg said he doesn't consider the veterinary clinics the city currently has to be an inconvenient distance.

Brent Schleisman, city administrator, said that it's more about how there aren't a lot of vacant properties in the B-4 districts and there aren't any veterinary clinics in city limits.

'That's part of it,” Schleisman said. 'Someone is looking to open a practice and there's no place to.”

Swarm said the current ordinance is really blunt and 'lumps” together all veterinary care - agriculture animals and small pets - into one category.

'If you break the categories up between large and small animals, I'm hoping they can be compatible with other businesses,” Swarm said.

There will be two other readings of the ordinance before it is passed.

The next Mt. Pleasant City Council meeting is Wednesday, June 26.