By Philip Haldiman
Independent Newsmedia
A long-vacant infill property in north Peoria is now planned for a veterinary office and clinic.
Lake Pleasant Veterinary Clinic is requesting a property near Lake Pleasant Parkway and Pinnacle Peak Road be rezoned to allow for office commercial uses and development standards, with the additional allowance of a veterinary office and clinic.
The request is to rezone roughly 2.5 acres that has been vacant for more than 40 years from general agriculture to planned-area development.
The Peoria Planning Commission recommended the case to city council Feb. 20. The council was scheduled to consider the rezoning March 25.
City Planner Michelle Navarro said when the site is developed in alignment with the proposed area standards, it will provide for a transition from the adjacent single-family zoning to the planned office and local commercial node at Lake Pleasant and Pinnacle Peak.
“The PAD is in alignment with office and local commercial designation in providing contextually appropriate infill development that is consistent with the intended low-intensity commercial uses, and in providing local neighborhoods services and goods,” Navarro said.
A property site plan has been submitted with plans for the facility to be 8,000 square feet and a maximum of 29 feet tall. The clinic will share access to the property with the Auto Zone to the north.
The city held a public input meeting Jan. 15 at Sunrise Mountain Public Library. There were three attendees. Topics of concern were: signs, heights, noise and odors, as well as a proposed crematorium within the facility.
In response, the applicant undertook revisions to the plan, which were:
• The building would not have illuminated signs on facades facing east and will limit illumination to the south;
• The proposed plan would increase the landscaping ratio to one tree per 25 linear feet along the perimeter of residential districts; and
• Crematorium use is now expressly prohibited in the PAD document.
Commissioner Doug Myers said he appreciated the property owner’s sensitivity to the neighbors.
“As a resident and neighbor, that lot has been vacant for far too long and I’m sure staff is aware that there has been many proposals there and we have not been able to move the meter, veterinary clinic or not. I’m just excited to see that land developed.”
