(Atlantic) On Monday, the City of Atlantic Board of Adjustment turned down a conditional use permit request from the Cass County Animal Clinic to build a vet clinic at 2309 Whitney Street (East 22nd Parcel). The proposed project would have been built in a low-density, single-family residential district, which was an issue with the current homeowners.
The Cass County Animal Clinic is owned by Erin Conrad-Schwarte, a doctor of veterinary medicine who provides services for dogs, cats, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. She purchased the clinic from Dr. Larry Victora in May 2020.
Dr. Schwarte explained she would run regular hours of operation from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. The clinic offers boarding services for dogs and cats. The boarding animals would have been housed in the kennel room on the southwest corner of the building, with plans for outdoor dog runs during business hours and weekend chore hours, weather permitting. Any livestock visiting the clinic would have been contained within the fenced area on the south side of the clinic and within the clinic, where there will be an alleyway, tub, and chute system. Livestock would not typically be housed on the premises overnight.
Bob Harris spoke in support of the clinic. Harris called the project a destination business. He pointed out that 59 percent of the residents of Atlantic own pets.
The neighboring residents filled the City Council Chambers, voicing their opposition to the facility. Shawn Macha, who would have lived adjacent to the facility, stated he purchased a home in the neighborhood that was zoned residential under the impression that he and his family would be protected under the residential zoning laws of the City of Atlantic. He stated he is pro-agriculture and not against the project being built somewhere in the area; his issue was safety and comfort.
Josh Dvorak lived near the proposed site and voiced his concern over the safety issue.
The concern for safety and comfort from the neighbors is where the Board of Adjustment hit a stumbling block. Dr. Conrad-Schwarte stated at the end of the meeting that she did not want to build a place where the neighbors were uncomfortable. Josh Dvorak and Shawn Macha said their opposition was not personal.
Board of Adjustment Member Shawn Shouse stated that he could not approve the conditional use permit due to the previous discussion.
The board turned down the request, and Board of Adjustment Chairperson Melissa Ihnen told Dr. Conrad-Schwarte she would find her a place to build.
