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Planning commission approves pediatric therapy clinic at former Melrose church
Summary
Casper Planning and Zoning Commission approved Conditional Use Permit CUP7882025 to allow a pediatric physical therapy clinic at 1511 South Melrose, using the existing church building. The commission found parking and traffic impacts acceptable and voted unanimously to approve the permit.
The Casper Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit (CUP7882025) to allow a pediatric physical therapy clinic to operate at 1511 South Melrose, the commission heard at its public meeting. The permit applies to an existing church building the applicant says will be sold to Wind City Physical Therapy.
City planning staff said the building, constructed in 1957 according to the assessor, has about 6,202 square feet of floor area and that the Municipal Code lists professional offices with fewer than 20 employees as a conditional use in an R-2 zoning district (referencing Section 17.30.230). Staff said the code requires 2.79 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet for professional offices (Section 17.12.080), which equates to a minimum of 17 spaces, and reported 20 off-street spaces in the staff report. Staff advised that, given the clinic’s planned hours and spacing of appointments, staff expected little noticeable traffic impact.
Daryl Wagner, treasurer for the congregation that owns the building, told commissioners the congregation will hold a final service April 27 and planned to allow some programs to continue in the space until at least July 1 or until the property sells. “They are wanting to use our space, to fill a need that is a pediatric physical therapy, which is not being offered at any of their clinics or, as my understanding, it's not anywhere else in the state,” Wagner said. Wagner said the buyer is Wind City Physical Therapy; he said the business currently has several locations and expects to occupy the entire building. Wagner also stated there are 27 parking spaces in the lot and that an owner on the south side holds an easement to nine spaces; he said that owner has agreed to make those spaces available during the day if needed.
Dennis Baker, speaking on behalf of proposed buyers Kathy and Brent Blair of Wind City Physical Therapy, described the intended services. “To begin with, they will have three pediatric physical therapists who specialize in pediatric treatment, one speech therapist, and one occupational therapist,” Baker said. He said the clinic may also use the building area for sports conditioning and that the business currently has eight employees in total.
Commissioner Elston moved to approve the conditional use permit, finding the proposal consistent with the standards set forth in Section 17.12.240 of the Municipal Code; Commissioner Ruble seconded. With all members voting aye, the motion passed and the permit was approved. City staff said they will provide the applicants with the paperwork in the coming week.
Why it matters: the approved use adapts an existing building to a medical service the applicants say is not currently available locally, while staff asserted the project meets zoning standards and parking requirements. The record includes a staff parking calculation, applicant statements on staffing and parking, and assurances from the applicant that building changes will be minimal.
