Sterling council to consider zoning change for new vet clinic

Sterling City Council is set to consider changes to city code that would let a small-animal veterinary practice operate in a former dental office, a move that could add another local care option for pet owners in Sterling and across Logan County.

The building became available after retiring dentist Dr. Jim Armbruster sold his practice to Dr. Trent Sayers on Nov. 9, 2023. Reusing that space, rather than building from scratch, would let the clinic open in an existing commercial site and avoid the cost and delay of a new construction project.

That matters in Sterling because every additional veterinary option can keep routine care closer to home for pet owners who now depend on the city’s limited animal-care footprint. Sterling already has Veterinary Medical Clinic at 211 El Camino St., which lists a phone number of 970-522-3321 and weekday hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A second small-animal clinic would give Logan County households another place to seek appointments and could spread demand across more than one provider.

The proposal also shows how local zoning decisions shape access to everyday services. If council approves the code change, the clinic would fill a repurposed office instead of waiting on a new building to be constructed, a faster path for a business that would also put an existing property back into use.

For Sterling, the issue is not simply another storefront. It is whether city policy will make room for a service that can keep pet care in town, reinforce the city’s role as a county hub and give nearby residents another option before they have to drive farther for small-animal care.