BUCYRUS ― A proposed zoning change is one step closer to becoming a reality after a public hearing Thursday evening by the Bucyrus City Council.
The request for the hearing was submitted by council’s platting committee and has been approved by the city planning commission to add veterinary offices as a permitted use in the general business district.
A letter from Dr. Todd Strickland of C and R Ventures to zoning administrator Landyn Hill was read by council clerk Todd Hill stipulating that Strickland approves of the zoning change but wants to ensure that the veterinary hospital located at 1321 E. Mansfield St. be grandfathered into the general business district.
“While under new management, a veterinary hospital has been at 1321 E. Mansfield St. for a number of years without any adverse effect of the community,” the letter read in part.
Landyn Hill said the hospital would be grandfathered in anyway.
“This is bookkeeping really,” Landyn Hill said. “We need clarification.”
Bucyrus resident Kurt Fankhauser asked if neighborhood business zoning was the only one that currently allows veterinary offices and Landyn Hill responded, yes, which is the reason for the amendment.
Fankhauser asked how the veterinary office that recently opened on West Mary Street was approved. Landyn Hill was not the zoning administrator when the office was approved to open.
“This is the reason that I wanted this zoning change because we do have veterinary offices in the general business district,” Landyn Hill said.
Fankhauser said he is in favor of the change to allow more businesses to come into the city.
The issue was referred to the platting committee for legislation to be created and voted upon by council at a later date.
Immediately following the hearing, the finance committee had a special meeting and approved legislation for the city’s 2019 budget.
It will be voted on at the next council meeting Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.