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Paris council approves rezoning and special-use permit for James O'Brien’s large-animal clinic after contentious public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing with residents split between neighbors and large-animal owners, the Paris City Council approved a rezoning and special-use permit allowing James O'Brien, DVM, to establish a large-animal veterinary clinic at 3147 Bottom Street; the ordinance passed 3–2.
The Paris City Council voted 3–2 on July 13 to rezone a property at 3147 Bottom Street and grant a special-use permit allowing a large-animal veterinary clinic for Dr. James O’Brien, DVM.
Supporters described repeated emergency care that, they said, would be harder or slower without a local facility. “Approving this rezoning request is a no brainer,” Mark Cloutier said, recounting O’Brien’s work caring for two rescued mules. Evelyn Walker, executive director of Taylor Dryde’s Equine Assisted Services, told the council that local therapeutic programs and veterans’ services depend on faster access to veterinary care: “If I had a place 15 to 20 minutes away, it would save a horse’s life.”
Opponents, many of whom live on or near 31st Street, raised concerns about traffic, proximity to homes and school bus stops, site cleanup and odors. Joyce Faulkner said neighbors remain “very much against this,” saying the clinic’s driveway and activity would be close to residents’ front doors. Several speakers urged clarity about overnight stays for animals; one neighbor said the applicant had told nearby residents horses would not remain overnight.
The applicant addressed neighborhood concerns in his remarks. He told the council there is no intent to build a small-animal practice and that the site plan positions the building toward the front near the nearest fire hydrant for safety. He also offered to provide lighting and landscaping and emphasized that the application had no design to house a small-animal clinic.
Council discussion acknowledged both the community need and neighborhood concerns. One councilmember noted that many supporters do not live in the immediate neighborhood while most opponents do, and that balance informed their judgment. After brief council remarks, a councilmember moved to approve the ordinance and the motion passed 3–2; the transcript records “Motion carries, 3 to 2.”
The ordinance rezones the parcel from an SF-2 single-family district to a General Retail district with a special-use permit for a large-animal veterinary clinic, as described in the agenda materials. The council did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript excerpt.
The council closed the public hearing before taking its vote. The applicant and multiple clients and employees volunteered to work with neighbors on operational issues and site-maintenance concerns if the permit is enacted.
The council’s approval is the most recent procedural step recorded in the meeting; the transcript does not specify additional required administrative approvals, building-permit timelines or an opening date for any clinic.
