(Atlantic, Iowa) The City of Atlantic’s Board of Adjustment, Monday evening, denied a conditional use permit request from the owner of the Cass County Animal Clinic.

The permit would have allowed Dr. Erin Conrad-Schwarte to build a vet clinic at 2309 Whitney Street (an East 22^nd St. Parcel). Dr. Schwarte purchased the Cass County Animal Clinic from Dr. Larry Victora in May, 2020. Since then, she has provided veterinary services for all sorts of animals. She wanted the parcel to board dogs and cats and for an outdoor dog run that would have been used during business hours. Schwarte told the Board any livestock visiting the clinic would have been contained within the fenced area on the south side of the clinic and within the clinic, and they would not normally be housed on the property overnight.

The proposed project, however, would have been in a low-density, single-family residential district. The fact that the area is zoned residential, prompted many residents in the area to attend the meeting and voice their opposition to the permit, citing safety and comfort concerns.

Taking those concerns into consideration, the Board moved to decline the conditional use permit.