County schedules next public hearing for vet clinic proposal

A proposal to turn the former site of the Neighborhood Learning Center of Niwot at 304 Franklin Street into a 6,405 square-foot veterinary clinic will go before the Boulder County Commissioners at a public hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 12 at the Boulder County Courthouse. Interested parties are invited to give their testimony before the three-member panel.

At issue is whether the proposed new use of the property, which lies in the Niwot Rural Community District II (NRCDII), should be granted Special Use approval. Drs. Nancy Bureau and Katie Thomas are hoping to convert the former daycare facility into the new home of Left Hand Animal Hospital, which opened at 136 2nd Avenue in 2013, but has since outgrown that space. Their development plan involves significant renovations to the historic two-story structure and grounds, including the construction of a 1,020-square foot vestibule on the west façade and the installation of 21 striped parking spaces. The county is planning to install a four-way stop at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Franklin Street due to concerns from area residents about sight distances. There are currently no stop signs on Franklin Street at that location.

At a public hearing before the Boulder County Planning Commission last month, county planning staff and more than two dozen supporters of the hospital spoke in favor of the move, including Dr. Bureau. The panel voted unanimously to recommend approval of Bureau and Thomas’ Special Review application, with certain conditions.

Approval by Commissioners Domenico, Gardner, and Jones would clear another hurdle for Bureau and Thomas. Assuming all goes their way, and they close on the purchase of the property, construction would begin later this year. Left Hand Animal Hospital will remain open at its current location until renovations are complete.