HOWELL – A building on Route 9 that previously housed a sports equipment consignment shop will be converted into a veterinary hospital.
On Dec. 21, members of the Howell Planning Board voted unanimously to approve a site plan for a practice to be operated by the applicant, Dr. Mahmoud Hussein.
Hussein proposed to convert the existing 10,000-square-foot, one-story building into a veterinary hospital consisting of 7,000 square feet of office space and 3,000 square feet for storage.
The building is at 2461 Route 9 North, between White Street and West Farms Road. The former occupant was the Sports Exchange.
Hussein was represented by attorney Todd Cohen and engineer John Ploskonka.
“We are putting in a 75-foot by 118-foot fence in the rear of the property for a dog run,” Ploskonka said, explaining that a dog run will provide space for dogs to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under supervision.
Ploskonka said woods behind the property will be maintained and will be a buffer between the medical practice and neighboring residences.
During his testimony, Hussein said he bought the building at 2461 Route 9 North in order to expand his practice and to provide a 24-hour facility.
“I have operated the Howell Animal Hospital in the Cherry Tree Plaza at 2354 Route 9 South since 2005. I want to expand into a new building so I bought that (Sports Exchange) building,” Hussein said.
The doctor said he will close his offices at Cherry Tree Plaza and move to the new location.
Hussein said that at the present time he is the only veterinarian in his practice. He said he is trying to bring on another veterinarian. The doctor said the maximum number of veterinarians who would be associated with the practice would be five.
He said he would reserve the right to possibly convert the planned 3,000 square feet of storage space into rooms for computed tomography (CT) scans and equipment.
“A CT scan is another tool, it is like X-ray room, a tool for us to diagnose a deep area that we cannot see by X-Ray,” Hussein said.
From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Hussein said, he would like to have one veterinarian, up to four technicians and two receptionists on duty. After those primary hours, he said he anticipates having one veterinarian, one receptionist and up to two technicians on duty.
The doctor said most of his patients are dogs (90 percent) and cats (10 percent).