Planning and Zoning Commission recommends land‑use change and CUP to allow audiology office at 963 W. Juniata St.

The City of Clermont Planning and Zoning Commission on June 3 voted 7‑0 to recommend a small‑scale comprehensive plan amendment and a conditional‑use permit to allow a medical office at 963 West Juniata Street.

Staff and the applicant said the proposal would convert a 1954 single‑family residence of about 1,550 square feet on roughly a quarter‑acre lot into an audiology office that would use the house’s existing footprint and operate on a limited schedule.

John Crews, Development Services, told the commission the small‑scale comprehensive plan amendment would change the parcel’s future land use from medium‑density residential to residential office so the medical office is an allowed use under Policy 1.71 of the city’s future land use element. Crews said staff supports Ordinance 2025‑022 and recommends approval.

The applicant, Dr. Blair Handy, told the commission she will not live at the property and that the office will be “only for professional use.” Engineer Robert Walker of Burkett Engineering said the applicant and his firm “are in agreement with [staff’s] findings, and we’re just here to answer any questions you may have.”

Commissioners heard that the proposed practice would be one‑on‑one (one patient at a time) and initially operate 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Staff’s recommended CUP includes broader allowable hours — Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. — to provide flexibility if the practice expands.

To address on‑site parking constraints, the applicant requested two special conditions: (1) a reduction from the 8 parking spaces required by the code to 5 spaces; and (2) use of a small portion of the city’s right‑of‑way in front of the property to construct those spaces. Crews said most spaces would be on private property but that a small portion would be in the public right‑of‑way; public works and staff reviewed the proposal and asked for detailed engineering during site plan review.

The CUP recommended by staff and approved by the commission (Resolution 2025‑011R) includes several conditions the commission discussed: recording the CUP with the Clerk of Court; a requirement that if the professional office ceases operation for more than 180 days a new CUP must be applied for; and language reserving the city’s right to act if on‑site and nearby parking proves inadequate.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on landscaping and long‑term maintenance, which the applicant agreed to meet code and to maintain; they also raised the risk that a future owner could operate a different, more intensive business and asked how that would be handled. Staff said the recorded CUP and the 180‑day cessation clause are mechanisms that would surface a change of use during title searches and provide a route to require a new review if uses change.

Commissioner Kramer moved to recommend approval of the small‑scale comprehensive plan amendment (Ordinance 2025‑022); Commissioner Colby seconded. The commission voted 7‑0. Kramer then moved to recommend approval of the CUP (Resolution 2025‑011R); Commissioner Nemec seconded, and the vote was 7‑0. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final action.

What happens next: if the City Council adopts the ordinance and resolution the applicant must complete site plan review and building‑department requirements for a change of use (including ADA accessibility and any interior renovations the building department deems necessary) before opening. The applicant and staff were instructed to coordinate preparation of engineering details for the right‑of‑way parking and the sidewalk shown on the submitted plan.

Ending: The Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation sends the proposal to the City Council; the applicant will work with city staff on engineering, site plan and building permit steps before the office can open.