Warr Acres council approves rezoning to allow new Woodlake Animal Hospital building
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Summary
After a public hearing and a meeting between the applicant and nearby residents, the Warr Acres City Council voted unanimously to rezone a split-zoned parcel at 6600 NW 60th Street from C1 to C3 so Woodlake Animal Hospital can replace its building and keep operating during construction.
The Warr Acres City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to rezone a parcel at 6600 NW 60th Street from C1 (suburban office) to C3 (neighborhood shopping) so Woodlake Animal Hospital can demolish an existing building and construct a new facility that will remain open during construction.
City planning staff told the council the lot had been split between C1 and C3 zoning for years because neighboring legal descriptions and ownership had changed; the Planning Commission recommended approval. Architect Jim Davis and civil engineer Dan Andrew Lanes told the council they had met with adjoining property owners and reduced the size of the facility’s outdoor dog area to address neighbors’ concerns. Davis said the new building will push farther back on the lot so the existing clinic can remain open during construction.
The rezoning matters because veterinary boarding and some clinic operations are permitted in C3 but not in C1. The planner explained the north portion of the parcel was already zoned C3, and the south portion C1; the application would consolidate the parcel under C3 and allow the proposed building and associated parking. Planning staff recommended approval and noted the Planning Commission had voted unanimously to approve the application, with three members absent.
Neighbors who attended the planning commission hearing raised concerns about screening, noise and access along a private drive on the property’s west side. Applicants said the project will not use that private drive for ingress or egress; site plans show all access from NW 60th Street. The applicants also said they would reduce the size of the outdoor dog enclosure and move it due south of the new building; during the meeting Davis said the south end of the dog enclosure would be set further away from homes than it is now and that the enclosure’s footprint had been reduced.
Councilmembers asked about construction hours and compliance with local noise ordinances; applicants said contractors would follow city rules, would not work on Sundays and would observe standard daytime construction hours. The applicant also said the proposed clinic would operate more as an urgent-care surgery center, which they said would reduce overnight boarding and outdoor dog use compared with the current operation.
After the public hearing and brief discussion, a motion to approve the rezoning carried on a roll call vote in which all members present voted in favor.
The file for the case will be updated to show the parcel rezoned to C3; applicants said they will apply for building permits and comply with all permit and ADA requirements during construction.
