Council upholds planning staff on veterinary clinic appeal; ordinance rewrite planned to separate clinics from kennels

The Vermillion City Council on Monday voted to deny an appeal of a planning staff decision and thereby block immediate approval of a conditional use permit (CUP) for a small animal veterinary clinic at 306 Bauer Street.

Why it matters: The applicant and supporters said the clinic would restore veterinary services to Vermillion and would operate as a satellite clinic with limited hours, no overnight kenneling and no surgeries. Planning staff and several council members said the application failed to meet the city zoning ordinance’s 150-foot separation requirement measured from outside wall to outside wall, and that the council’s appeal authority is limited to claims of illegality under the code.

What the council decided: Councilor Price moved to deny the appeal; Councilor Hellwig seconded. After discussion the council voted to deny the appeal, upholding the staff determination that the proposed unit is within 150…