The Jacksonville City Council on July 8 approved a special-use permit (SUP) allowing DeHart Veterinary Services to operate a mobile veterinary and animal hospital from a trailer at Lot 1 of the Ricky Brown Addition (17070 East Rush Street), subject to a council review in 24 months.

City staff told the council the request had previously been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and by the council on July 11, 2023, but a condition required construction or a building permit within two years of the SUP's issuance. The applicant has operated from a mobile trailer in the interim. Staff said there were no known official complaints lodged with the city during the prior two years and that the Planning and Zoning Commission had unanimously recommended approval at its June meeting.

Resident Jeffrey Tyler Johnson, who owns property behind the site, spoke in favor of the service but asked whether the business would remain mobile: "Is it gonna be completely mobile, or is it gonna be turning to something bigger? I'm for it. But if it comes permanently where I hear animals nonstop..." Johnson said he supported the service as long as it remained mobile.

Council members debated whether to reissue the SUP with the original two-year condition or allow a longer or different review. Councilman Rob Goin moved to approve the SUP with a two-year expiration; Councilwoman Mindy Gellert seconded. During discussion, several members said the mobile service provided a valuable, low-cost veterinary service to the region and that the council should use the review period to reexamine the city's itinerant-vendor rules. A staff member suggested a hybrid approach in which the SUP would come back before council for review at the end of the period, potentially bypassing a full Planning and Zoning reapplication.

Council later amended the motion to specify the SUP would be approved for two years subject to city council review at 24 months; the amendment passed and the permit was approved by voice vote. City staff clarified that the SUP authorizes the veterinary use; if the operator later chose to build a permanent brick-and-mortar facility, the SUP would permit the land use and the owner could apply for building permits under applicable codes. Staff also noted the operator remains subject to the city's itinerant vendor ordinance and may need to comply with distance and permitting requirements under that ordinance.

Votes at a glance: Special-use permit for DeHart Veterinary Services at 17070 East Rush Street — approved (motion by Councilman Rob Goin, second by Councilwoman Mindy Gellert; amendment adopted to require council review at 24 months; approved by voice vote).

The council also directed staff to reexamine the city's itinerant-vendor and related permitting rules and to prepare clarifying materials that distinguish itinerant vendors and food-truck rules where overlap exists.