Warsaw Board Of Zoning Appeals approved a variance of use to allow a veterinary clinic and kennel in a residential district Monday night. Petitioner Eric Ewert and his wife, Shanna, attended Monday’s meeting to request the vet clinic and kennel at 3800 N. Ind. 15, Warsaw, as a home occupation. The name of the business will be Community Animal Hospital. It will be north of Symmetry Medical and south of the Tippy River Bridge. The property was annexed in 2010 from Kosciusko County where it was zoned residential, according to Tim Dombrosky, assistant city planner. The property previously housed Wood-N-Stuff. Dombrosky said if the property were to go through the city’s upcoming comprehensive plan update, it may be rezoned as commercial because of the characteristics of being on Ind. 15 and being directly adjacent to industrial property. Dombrosky recommended the board approve the variance and said the clinic and kennel are the most appropriate use for the property. Board member Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan made a motion to approve the variance, seconded by board member Rick Keeven. A business sign also was approved to be located at the site under commercial district specifications not to exceed 8 feet wide by 32 feet high. Shanna said she and her husband like the location for the kennel and clinic. “We feel it is a prime location where the city is growing,” Shanna said. She said the clinic and kennel will strictly provide services for dogs and cats. Board member Rick Keeven asked how much outdoor activity will be at the kennel and clinic. Shanna said there will be an area behind the building that will be fenced off to allow dogs to go to the bathroom outside, but the dogs will not be outside for long periods of time. She said the dogs and cats will not be outside overnight. Keeven said he supported the clinic and kennel use for the property. “It’s a far cry from the light industrial use and I think this will be an attractive use,” Keeven said. Tammy Dalton, board member, said she was not opposed to allowing a sign on the property. “This is a great location and use for that property,” Dalton said. Dombrosky said as the area develops, the city expects to see more light industrial and commercial uses along the corridor.
