A Cherry Hill veterinarian plans to open a vet clinic in space formerly occupied by the Options for Women pregnancy care center at 13 West Ormond Avenue.
Residents' concerns over parking and animal waste were included in the Cherry Hill zoning board's approval of plans for a new veterinary office near the Windsor Park neighborhood.
Members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment voted 6-0 last week in favor of a use variance that will allow Dr. Shammi Dhawan to open the office, which is not permitted by the Township's ordinance in the office zone, at 13 West Ormond Avenue where a Pregnancy Care Center once operated. The building, owned by Dhawan, is vacant.
"I am really concerned about the whole pet waste issue and inadequate facilities for the pet waste," community advocate Martha Wright, who lives on Munn Lane, told the board at the December 7 meeting.
Wright said she visited the property and found limited green and open space. She also said he was concerned about the community health impact of runoff from pet waste into nearby waterways.
"I don't see an adequate area for pets to relieve themselves," she said in her testimony.
Dr. Dhawan, who lives on Saddlehorn Drive in Cherry Hill, responded that the practice will make sure adequate green space is set aside for pets to use.
The yellow border highlights the two lots that will contain a new veterinary clinic.
Another resident, Rena Margulis of School Lane, whose office neighbors the site, discussed the parking scheme, which lists seven parking spaces available on the office lot.Â
"I am quite concerned about the parking that is proposed here," she told the board. Two lots make up the site for the veterinary practice and Margulis urged the board to require the empty lot to be striped so patients know they may park there. The board agreed to include it in the conditions of the approval.
In the board discussion, members Joseph DiSalvo and Daniel DiRenzo Jr. called for a condition of approval to include parking space striping.
Board chair Marshall Spevak told Dhawan that the board is trusting that he take care of the animal relief area and make it workable for your business, neighbors and other businesses.
The veterinary office will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and serve dog or cat owners for regular wellness care and for on-demand urgent care when needed, explained Dhawan, who has practiced since 2011 and now works at the St. Francis Veterinary Center of South Jersey in Swedesboro, Gloucester County.
He said he expects to serve 15 to 20 patients a day and will emphasize that the practice is locally owned and not part of a corporate network like several others in the area.Â
A "community feel" will be emphasized and animal owners will find the services affordable and intimate, Dhawan said.
"We want to be a destination practice," Dhawan told the board. "We want the community feel that yes there's a practice that they can come in."
