Amid protests, chiropractor gets OK to open practice

A local chiropractor's efforts to open an office in the heart of a Spring Hill residential community created concern Tuesday from residents who call it an encroachment of their neighborhood.

About a dozen people urged county commissioners to deny the rezoning, even though the county's planning and zoning board had previously recommended approval.

"It's an invasion of my privacy," said Glenn Fertig, who lives next to the proposed site. "It's going to lower the value of my property."

Several residents signed a petition saying the practice would increase traffic and attract criminals seeking prescription drugs from the site.

After an hour debate, commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the rezoning.

Their approval came with conditions, including the planned erection of a privacy fence to shield neighbors from the view.

Also, the board restricted the rezoning to professional office only and prohibited other uses under that heading.

County Commissioners Dave Russell and Jim Adkins voted to deny the rezoning, saying that the doctor's office is an encroachment into the community.

After hearing from several angry residents at a previous meeting, commissioners opted to rehear a rezoning petition that would have allowed Dr. Diana Crivelli to open a chiropractic and therapy office inside a converted model home on the southwest corner of Spring Hill Drive and Fairview Road.

The planning and zoning commission had already recommended approval of the rezoning, going against county planning staffers who said it would be inconsistent with the comprehensive plan and surrounding land uses.

Crivelli told the board she had already signed a real estate contract on the property and to pull a prior approval out from under her now would cause her financial hardship.

Crivelli told the board if it is trying to bankrupt her, it is doing a good job.

Matthew Foreman, with the Hogan Law Firm, said his client has already made a commitment to the site and asked the board to uphold an earlier P&Z decision.

"You got it right the first time," Foreman said.

But residents say opening a chiropractic office squarely in the heart of a residential center not only would bring down property values but it would be an encroachment of commercial into the area.

Resident Anthony Palmieri argued against rezoning to office professional.

"You may think you're approving a doctor's office on this site," he said. "Well, you're wrong."

Allowing this rezoning opens the door to a variety of other uses under the office professional category, including public assembly clubs and other commercial establishments, he said.

Crivelli has said her practice would consist of a maximum of three part-time employees and is proposing to be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.