Agenda - Council - 04/14/1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE -£ PROPOSED ORI)IN3NCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 5 (A~IIMALS AND FOWL; DOG REGULATIONS) AND CHAPTER 9 (ZONING AND SUBDIVISION OF LAND; DEFINITIONS) OF THE RAMSEY CITY CODE By: Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik Background: Ramsey City Code currently restricts the number of adult dogs allowed on a single parcel of land to 2. To have more than 2 adult (more than 6 months of age) dogs on a parcel requires a conditional use permit. Per the Council's direction, City Staff researched regulations for keeping dogs in other communities and reported back to the Planning Commission with an option to amend Ramsey's City Code. Observations: Below are the results of a survey of surrounding communities as to how many dogs are allowed on a parcel without a special permit: Andover 3 Bethel 2 East Bethel 2 Fridley 3 Otsego 2 St. Francis 2 Blaine 3 Anoka 2 Dayton 2 Champlin 2 Elk River 3 (2.5 acres required for permits for more than 3 dogs) (total for dogs and cats) (5 acres requires for permits for more than 2 dogs) Since 1976, the City has processed 17 conditional use permits for non-commercial dog kennels. Only 4 of those permits were for 3 dogs; the remainder were some number more than 3. However, it is believed that there are many properties that may be in violation of the regulation. If owners are not aware of the ordinance and if neighbors don't complain, Staff has no way of locating violations and requiring animal owners to apply for the proper permits. The above information was presented to the Planning Commission and they directed City Staff to draft an ordinance to consider increasing the number of dogs allowed on a parcel from 2 to 3. Staff drafted the ordinance and a public heating was scheduled for the March 16 special Planning Commission meeting. At the hearing, some citizens and commissioners raised concerns that perhaps the number of dogs allowed on urban parcels should remain at 2. 113