Local resident outlines plan for Clarinda exotic pet store; council advised on permitting process

Samantha Brown told the Clarinda City Council on Aug. 26 that she plans to open an exotic pet store in Clarinda and intends to sell bearded dragons, small lizards, ball pythons, spiders and geckos. She asked the council for guidance and requested that the Planning and Zoning Commission hold the required public hearing to consider a conditional use permit.

A city staff member identified as McClarnon told the council the animals Brown described are legal to sell under state code and explained that Clarinda’s municipal code requires any pet store to obtain a conditional use permit, which begins with a public hearing before Planning and Zoning and is followed by a recommendation to the council. McClarnon said the city currently has no alternate plan for the property examined and recommended proceeding through the Planning and Zoning process. The council took no formal action at the meeting.

The next procedural step is for Planning and Zoning to hold a public hearing; Brown asked that the commission proceed. The council did not schedule any city-level vote at the Aug. 26 meeting.