Animal Clinic Breaks Ground

BROOKSVILLE - A group of workers gathered early Wednesday morning on a grassy parcel off Amero Lane and Anderson Snow Road ready to begin construction of the new Spring Hill Animal Clinic.
It will be the second veterinary clinic for David and Stacy Wempe, who also operate Spring Hill Animal Clinic at 11151 Spring Hill Drive, near the corner of Mariner Boulevard.
Stacy Wempe said business may be down slightly because of the economy, but there is always a need for pet owners to keep their animals healthy. She also said she and her husband want to do their part to help the local economy. This new clinic will create about seven new jobs.
She believes the location will better suit clients because it is less congested. At 5,000 square feet, it will also be about two-and-a-half times the size of their existing clinic, which they took over in 1999.
She plans to keep the existing veterinary clinic open to accommodate clients on that side of Spring Hill.
Wempe said she and her husband will schedule visits from surgeons specialized to handle special needs animals. Currently, if a pet owner's dog required an ultrasound or internal surgery, the only option is usually to travel to Tampa.
The new clinic will also have soundproof areas so as not to disturb surrounding homes with barking.
Wempe said she is shooting for a November opening.
Back in 2007, the county granted zoning approval for that southwest corner of Amero Lane, directly across from Anderson Snow Park. The only entrance into the clinic will be off Amero Lane.
One of the zoning conditions was that the developer would reserve right of way along Anderson Snow Road to save the county money if land along that busy road has to be acquired in the future.
The county sometimes grants impact fee credits to developers who, in exchange, take steps to alleviate some of the impacts caused by their development.