Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/16/1999 - Special Meeting

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C SE # PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO AMEND DOG REGULATIONS By: Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik Background: Per the Commission's direction, City Staff has drafted an ordinance to amend City Code regulations regarding dogs. The Commission has been discussing the possibility of increasing the number of dogs allowed to be kept on a parcel from 2 to 3. They raised a couple of possibilities such as an across-the-board increase to 3, holding the number to 2 and allowing a 3ra dog if certain performance standards are met, holding the number to 2 in the urban district and increasing-the number to 3 in rural large lot areas. Staff was also advised to refer to dog regulations in Maple Grove and Fridley. Observations: Staff has researched and has not been able to fred any other existing dog regulations that include much more in the way of performance standards than Ramsey's current ordinance. Therefore, with the basic ground roles already in place, the next step was to add and clarify definitions, and make a determination on whether to increase the number of dogs allowed without a special permit from the Council. Staff drafted an ordinance that now includes a definition for commercial dog kennel and private dog kennel; and clearly specifies the need for a conditional use permit for these uses. A general increas~ from 2 to 3 dogs without the need for a special permit is proposed because it would be the simplest to administer and enforce. Linking the number of dogs allowed to whether or not the property is in the Urban Service Area is a moving target. And, there are some large rural-type lots existing in the urban service area that otherwise would have been eligible to have 3 dogs. If there is going to be some sort of distinction between urban and rural regulations, it is better to do so by lot area rather than zoning district. Drafting performance standards to be met in order to have 3 versus the standard 2 dogs would be difficult and subsequent administration of the regulations could become cumbersome. There are too many variables involved in drafting equitable standards; like the size-of the dogs or are they kept indoors or outdoors. Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City either: (a) generally increase the number of dogs allowed to be kept on a property to 3 or; Co) retain the 2 dog restriction on parcels less than 25,000 square feet in size, for instance, and parcels exceeding that size may have up to 3 dogs without a special permit from the City. As noted in the proposed definitions for private and commercial dog kennels, conditional use permits would be required for 4 or more dogs, no matter what the size of the parcel. Even if the Commission goes with option Co), the change is not significant enough from the ordinance proposed to require another public hearing.