Royal Palm Beach panel recommends approval for veterinary oncology center at Palms West Drive

The Royal Palm Beach Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously March 25 to recommend approval of Application No. 25-007, a special exception to allow a veterinary oncology center without overnight stays at 12993 Palms West Drive.

Planner Josue, representing village planning staff, told the commission that "Staff has determined that the proposed special exception conforms to village standards" and asked the commission to forward a recommendation of approval to the village council with Resolution No. 25-03.

The applicant, represented by John Roach of the Gunster law firm, said the clinic will occupy a portion of an existing, approximately 12,000-square-foot building on a 1.6-acre site. Roach said the tenant space to be granted the special exception covers about 8,000 square feet, though the applicant does not intend to use all of that area in the initial phase. "We'll not be impacting surrounding property owners or the general area as everything is confined within the structure," Roach said.

According to the application and staff presentation, the building already contains a radiation vault from a prior oncology tenant and will include an indoor pet restroom to keep activity inside the building. The applicant said there will be no exterior alterations; the clinic's main entrance will be on the east side of the building, separated by roughly 50 linear feet from an adjacent tenant's rear entrance, and the west side will serve as emergency egress only.

Village staff reviewed the proposal for consistency with the village comprehensive plan and development standards for the office commercial (CO) zoning district and concluded it would not create adverse vehicular or pedestrian impacts or reduce light and air to adjacent properties beyond what can be mitigated by conditions. The village council previously approved a text amendment in February (Ordinance No. 1052) to allow veterinarian oncology centers without overnight stays as a special exception in the CO district following a unanimous Planning and Zoning recommendation in October 2024.

Motion and vote: Commissioner Kara Dery moved to approve Application No. 25-007; Vice Chairman Kumar Williams seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The commission's recommendation will be transmitted to the village council, along with the staff report and proposed Resolution No. 25-03, for final consideration.

The commission adjourned; its next meeting is scheduled for April 22, 2025.