New Vet Clinic Headed to Weho

West Hollywood is getting a new veterinary clinic after the Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a Santa Monica Boulevard clinic at its Thursday meeting.

The West Hollywood Animal Hospital will go into the space at ., at La Peer (across from the ). For many years, that site housed the International Male clothing store and most recently was the Casting Café, a bakery/restaurant with casting offices in the back.

Run by Dr. Monica Revel, the animal hospital will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with extended hours for emergency treatments. The site will have a doggie day care area and plans to host pet adoptions once they get established.

About a dozen people were in favor of the project during public comment, speaking highly of Revel, who has also worked at the nearby VCA veterinary clinic on Melrose and , a half mile east on Santa Monica Boulevard.

While the commissioners were glad to know the veterinarian was so well liked and respected, they reminded it was not their job to judge the character of the applicant.

“We’re here to decide on use of the land and not the person who’s going to be running the facility,” said Commissioner Marc Yeber. “The use is permanent and the person is not.”

Impressed with Revel's plan for the vet clinic, the commission approved the conditional use permit unanimously. When Weho Patch approached Revel after the meeting for comment, she was in tears and could only say, “I’m speechless.”

The commission delayed a hearing on the James Hotel until its Oct. 20 meeting as new information about the project has come in. The James Hotel at 8950 Sunset Blvd. is requesting a two-year extension to start construction. This will be the sixth extension the James Hotel project, first approved in 1999, has requested.

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