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Commission recommends small specialty veterinary surgery center on County Road 21, neighbors voice safety and wildlife concerns
Summary
The commission recommended approval of a special‑use permit for a specialty veterinary surgery center on a 40‑acre parcel along County Road 21, contingent on staff conditions; nearby residents objected over traffic, wildlife corridors and locating a commercial operation in a residential/agricultural area.
The Elbert County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of SUR‑2025‑0002, a request to establish a small specialty veterinary surgery center (TPLO procedures) on a 40‑acre parcel at 37631 County Road 21, after staff said referral agencies raised no outstanding objections and conditions were proposed.
Planning staff (Kelsey Lynam) told the commission the applicants will operate daytime only, see up to seven patients a day, provide no overnight boarding and will either haul water to a holding tank or, in the future, drill a new well subject to Division of Water Resources approval and proper well abandonment. The staff report noted public‑works review determined no traffic letter was required for the proposed level of operations, and public‑health had no outstanding objections to waste disposal under the proposed plan.
Neighbors raised multiple objections at the public hearing, citing safety concerns for turning operations on County Road 21, effects on wildlife corridors and the wisdom of placing a commercial service in the middle of largely residential agricultural land. Robert Green, a nearby resident, called the project “ill considered” given the road’s 50‑mph character and lack of acceleration/deceleration lanes.
Applicants responded that the clinic will be a low‑impact, daytime specialty surgical practice designed to preserve on‑site trees and limit noise and lighting. The surgeon said the facility has been operated as a mobile/satellite service for years and that the planned site was chosen to minimize tree removal; the applicants also proposed a 1,200‑gallon water holding tank and restricted hours to daytime operations.
Commissioner (S14) moved to recommend approval with the conditions proposed by staff; the motion passed by roll call (8 ayes, 0 nays). Staff will forward the recommendation and standard condition set—including sign removal and exhibit recordation—to the BOCC.
