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Commission: Equine veterinary clinic may pursue special permit after similar-use finding
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously found CT Equine Clinic's proposed veterinary operation substantially similar to a permitted commercial horse operation, authorizing the Sears family to pursue a special permit; the clinic would operate on a 19-acre property with no boarding or surgical facilities.
Chairman J. Riendeau told the Planning and Zoning Commission that the Sears family is seeking to establish an equine veterinary clinic on an existing horse property in the Rural Agricultural (RA) zone and asked the commission to determine whether the proposed use is substantially similar to a permitted use under Section 6.2 of the Regulations.
Scott Sears, owner of CT Equine Clinic, plc., said the practice has operated as a mobile equine veterinary business since 1987 and proposed using a 19-acre property with a barn for limited on-site treatments. He said the clinic would not provide overnight boarding or hospitalization, would not perform surgeries on-site, and would employ four veterinarians with four to five support staff; trucks used by veterinarians would not be stored overnight on the property. "There would be no surgeries/hospital facilities on-site, no boarding, and minimal traffic," Sears said.
Commission members queried the property size, traffic impacts, and whether surgeries or boarding would occur. After discussion the Commission concluded the proposed equine veterinary operation is substantially similar to a Commercial Horse Operation under Section 52.7.16. J. Riendeau moved to approve the equestrian veterinary concept as substantially similar to the allowable Commercial Horse Operations via special permit; R. Powell seconded and the motion passed 6:0:0. The vote authorizes the Sears to pursue a formal special permit application before the Commission.
The decision at this stage is a similar-use determination, not final approval of site plans or special-permit conditions. Any special permit application will return to the Commission for review of site-specific details, traffic assessments, and compliance with zoning standards.
