Springdale council adopts zoning change to allow medical and dental clinics and clinic‑linked pharmacies

The Springdale Town Council voted March 11 to amend town code to allow medical and dental clinics in the central commercial, village commercial and public use zones and to add definitions for two types of pharmacies, including a pharmacy operated in conjunction with a clinic that may serve the general public.

Tom Dancy, the staff contact for the item, told the council the code currently includes a clinic definition but does not specifically allow clinics in any zone. He said the ordinance as drafted would "allow medical clinics in the village commercial, central commercial, and public use zone" and asked the council to choose whether pharmacies in the public use zone should be limited to clinic patients or open to the general public.

Laurie Wright, CEO of Family Healthcare, gave a presentation describing current clinic operations and local demand. Wright said Family Healthcare serves residents and visitors and described the practical benefits of adding a pharmacy: "Having a pharmacy on-site really helps with that continuity of care," she said, noting the organization runs pharmacies at other clinics and that a local pharmacy would reduce trips off the hill for prescriptions.

A member of the public, Lisa Zolf of Springdale, urged the council to adopt the more permissive option and said the general plan supports enhanced medical services.

In discussion, councilors weighed state pharmacy classifications and local goals. One councilor suggested aligning municipal language with the state pharmacy code categories (class A and class B pharmacies) but others said the town’s geography and heavy park visitation argue for allowing a clinic‑associated pharmacy that can serve visitors as well as patients. The motion adopted specified the staff’s first proposed definition for a "pharmacy in conjunction and associated with a dental or medical clinic," which allows the pharmacy to provide stand‑alone pharmacy services while being operated in the same building as a clinic.

The ordinance was adopted by motion and voice vote, and the staff was directed to update code language as needed to reflect the chosen pharmacy definition. Councilors and staff noted the change is intended to support local healthcare access and to improve continuity of care for residents and park visitors. The council also noted the ordinance will require a conforming amendment where the town's clinic definition previously referenced an included pharmacy.

The next step is updating the code language and any related administrative rules so the zoning change can be implemented and potential applicants can proceed under the clarified standards.