Commission recommends code change to explicitly allow medical clinics and ancillary pharmacies in Public Use zone

The Springdale Planning Commission on Dec. 3 recommended an amendment to section 10-7a of the town code to explicitly allow medical and dental clinics as permitted uses and to clarify the status of pharmacies in the Public Use zone.

Tom explained the code already defines "medical clinic" (which may include dental labs and a pharmacy) but that the permitted-uses table does not currently list clinics and, separately, marks pharmacies as not permitted in the Public Use zone. "The clinic may include dental and or medical laboratory and pharmacy," Tom said when explaining the definition; the proposed change resolves the inconsistency by adding clinics to the permitted-uses chart and by adding a line permitting "pharmacies in conjunction with medical clinic" in the Public Use column while leaving standalone drugstores/pharmacies unchanged in other zones.

Commissioners discussed whether allowing pharmacies as part of a town clinic would inadvertently permit stand-alone retail drugstores in public-use areas. They agreed the cleanest fix is to keep the existing drugstore/pharmacy line as not permitted in Public Use and add a separate line that allows pharmacies only when they are ancillary to an authorized medical clinic in the Public Use zone.

The commission moved to recommend approval of the ordinance revision as discussed; the motion passed unanimously and the recommendation will be forwarded to the town council.