Veterinary hospital could hit Ocoee

OCOEE  Last summer, Mike Cavinder returned to Ocoee to open Paws & Play Pet Resort for pets whose owners are on vacation.

The resort’s newest neighbor on West Colonial Drive just east of State Road 429 soon could be another pet business: Daniels Veterinary Services.

Tony and Mary Ray intend to partner with Dr. Herbert Daniels to open a veterinary hospital on about 6.95 acres that would be annexed into Ocoee.

“We still have 4.3 acres available, facing (Florida’s) Turnpike on the back of the property,” Ray said. “The whole piece is going to be annexed and rezoned. In fact, it was approved at one time by the city of Ocoee for two hotels and a restaurant … They couldn’t go forward with their plans. So actually it has been approved for C-3 zoning in the past, but because the guy never paid his impact fees, it's been in limbo for several years.”

Ray said Daniels, of Windermere, was looking for a location closer to home, and this property would be a beautiful location with a high traffic count for him.

“He’s already a vet in the area,” Tony Ray said of Daniels. “He has a couple of locations in the area, I think.”

Cavinder said he would welcome another veterinarian in the area, and he is familiar with Daniels.

“Pets are our passion; their care and well-being remain our top priority and are foundational to our mission,” Cavinder said. “Naturally, we would support any person or company who shares the same commitment to providing exceptional care for pets and peace of mind for their owners.”

The Development Review Committee recommended approval of annexation and initial commercial zoning of this property. The Ocoee City Commission could make a final decision on annexation and initial zoning as soon as its March 1 meeting at Ocoee City Hall.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].