Milford planning commission approves veterinary clinic use at 42 East 400 South with conditions

The Milford Planning Commission on Sept. 10, 2025, approved a request to allow a veterinary clinic use at 42 East 400 South submitted by business owner Scott Simons, subject to a business operating agreement, site-plan review and required county and city permits.

The commission’s approval, moved by Commissioner Chancey Carter and seconded by Commissioner Nick Schofield, included specific conditions: clinic services only (no boarding or overnight stays), no outdoor kennels, demonstration of waste and sanitation procedures, completion of a site plan review addressing parking, signage, landscaping and lighting, and issuance of a Milford City business license before operation.

Why it matters: The commission said the approval would allow local, limited veterinary services in Milford instead of residents driving to neighboring towns. Commissioners and staff emphasized protecting the character of the Main Street Commercial District by limiting overnight stays, kennels and on-site animal storage.

During discussion, applicant Scott Simons described the planned operations and timeline. He said the clinic would be a small-animal, low‑occupancy operation with largely “in-and-out” visits: “This is an in-and-out thing. We’re not planning on doing major…” Simons told the commission he expects the veterinarian to be present roughly one day a week with potential additional assistant days, and that he is not planning on boarding animals at the site.

Commissioners and staff pressed for details about permitting and health‑department requirements. Staff explained that the zoning determination being made at the meeting would be followed by a site-plan review (parking, dumpster location, lighting and landscaping) and then by building‑permit, health‑department and fire‑safety reviews when Simons applies for a business license. The commission asked Simons to provide a written waste and sanitation plan as part of the operating agreement process.

Simons also said exterior renovations and parking improvements are planned; he estimated paving the parking area could cost about $12,000. Staff told him that certain interior changes such as adding a bathroom will require a building permit through the county and that city staff (Les and Kyle) would inspect the site as part of the business‑license process.

The commission directed staff to draft an operating agreement that captures the approved terms; the chair will sign the agreement and Simons must execute it before the use becomes effective. After the operating agreement and when Simons is ready, the commission said he should submit a site-plan packet for review; if the site-plan review is approved, Simons may proceed with building permits and the business license process.

The commission’s action preserved the Main Street Commercial District’s character while allowing limited veterinary services in town. No vote tally by named members appears in the record beyond a voice vote in favor.