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Shelton panel approves urgent‑care veterinary clinic at Bridgeport Avenue over dissent
Summary
The commission approved a text/use modification and site application to allow an Urgent Vet urgent‑care veterinary clinic at 745–801 Bridgeport Avenue; vote passed 5‑1 after a public hearing and commissioner debate about scope and limitations.
The Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission on April 9 approved application 25‑02 to permit an urgent‑care veterinary clinic (Urgent Vet) at 745–801 Bridgeport Avenue, approving a modification to the PDD uses and standards to add veterinary urgent care. The motion passed on a 5‑1 roll call vote after public comment and a commission discussion about the clinic’s scope.
Dr. Jim Dobies, founder and president of Urgent Vet, described the proposed operation as an outpatient urgent‑care model similar to human urgent care: staffed by a licensed veterinarian on the premises, open evenings and weekends, treating non‑hospitalized patients and stabilizing and transferring emergencies to 24‑hour emergency hospitals when needed. Dr. Dobies said proposed hours are 3 p.m.–11 p.m. Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Saturday–Sunday, and noon–8 p.m. on holidays. He said the clinic would not provide overnight hospitalization, advanced surgery, boarding, grooming or long‑term intensive care; average visit length was estimated at about one hour. The proposed floor plan lists six exam rooms.
Public comment included a representative of a nearby transfer station, Interstate Waste Systems, asking the commission to note potential ongoing noise from trucks and to request protections if residential uses are introduced nearby. Several residents attending other hearings said they favor more local veterinary options to avoid costly overnight emergency transfers to specialty hospitals.
Commissioners debated conditions to limit the clinic’s operations to urgent outpatient care and to require the applicant to return to the commission if hours or scope change. Commissioner Amato moved to approve; Commissioner Christiano seconded. The motion passed (5‑1). The record shows the commission added a condition that substantial changes in hours or scope (for example, overnight hospitalization or full emergency services) would require the applicant to return for commission review.
The commission’s approval was procedural and conditioned on the operation remaining within the outpatient urgent‑care scope described at the hearing. The applicant will proceed with permitting and any building department requirements.
