Planning commission recommends rezoning for limited-service spay/neuter clinic on Highway 58

At a public hearing, the Mecklenburg County Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning a parcel on the north side of Highway 58, roughly a half-mile west of Route 677 (Wilkerson Road), from R-2 (residential) to A-2 (agriculture) to allow operation of a limited-service dog and cat clinic by applicants Holly Gill and James Levick.

The applicants presented a plan for a drop-off spay/neuter facility that Gill described as a limited-service, nonboarding operation aimed at population control and serving underprivileged pet owners. "I wanted to reach out to the county, Mecklenburg County's families and the community in order to offer some spay, neuter... a spay neuter facility to the county community," Gill said. She said she is the only surgeon, would operate three days a week, would admit patients starting at 8:30 a.m. and discharge by about 3 p.m., and would not run a full-service hospital.

Gill told commissioners the facility had a state licensing inspection scheduled for June 16 and that the clinic would require state facility approval before the county could issue a special-exemption permit. She said she holds a veterinary license in Virginia and a DEA registration, and that the planned operation would be nonprofit and have no public waiting room or signage. "There's not gonna be boarding... these animals have to go home after the surgery," Gill said.

Commissioners questioned licensing and facility requirements; Gill described state inspection items including emergency lighting, refrigerated medication storage, and labeling requirements. A commissioner also asked whether Gill's veterinary license was current; Gill replied she has been a licensed veterinarian in Virginia since 1982 and confirmed the facility itself still needed the separate facility inspection and approval.

After public comment, a commissioner moved to recommend approval, citing that the rezoning "will not be detrimental to public welfare" and would expand animal care services in the county. The motion noted the owner must obtain state approval to operate the veterinary clinic before filing for the county special-exemption permit. A second was made by Mr. Watson, and the commission carried the motion by voice vote.

Next steps are for the applicant to secure the state facility approval and then submit the county special-exemption permit application for formal review and final action by the county.