Agenda - Council - 09/23/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Discussion regarding the request continued into the September Planning Commission meeting. An open house was conducted prior, during which concerns were expressed that related to noise and dogs escaping from the Subject Property. Photos depicting the dogs at large can be seen in Exhibit F. When the request was being heard by the Planning Commission, there was unanimous consent given to the operation of the private kennel operation, which allowed the Applicant to maintain her four (4) dogs on the Subject Property. During deliberation of the portion of the request related to the commercial dog kennel operation, several members of the Planning Commission voiced concerns about allowing additional dogs on the property and how that would impact the character of the neighborhood. Ultimately, the commercial kennel operation to maintain an additional three (3) dogs on the Subject Property was approved with four (4) members in favor and two (2) against. Alternatives Option 1: Approve Resolutions #14-09-174 and #14-09-175 modified as requested. City Staff is supportive of permitting the private dog kennel and the commercial dog kennel with modifications to the total number of dogs boarded on the Subject Property. City Staff recommends allowing up to seven (7) dogs to be boarded on the Subject Property contingent upon the fence being relocated so that it is entirely on the Subject Property. This number will allow the Applicant to keep their four (4) dogs they currently own, maintain the family member's dog that is cared for regularly, and still board up to two (2) more dogs belonging to family members and friends when necessary. In essence, this modification maintains the spirit of the original request while also recommending a more reasonable number of dogs based on the regularity of boarding services, the environment where boarding services will be conducted, and concerns expressed by neighbors. City Staff supports this option. Option 2: Approve Resolutions #14-09-174 and #14-09-175 modified as requested. This option would grant approval for a conditional use permit to operate a private dog kennel on the Subject Property, allowing the Applicant to maintain the four (4) dogs they currently own. Differing from Option 1, it would instead deny approval to the commercial dog kennel portion of the request, eliminating the option to offer any boarding services to dogs not owned by the Applicant. Option 3: Approve Resolutions #14-09-174 and #14-09-175 granting a conditional use permit to maintain up to twelve (12) dogs at the property located at 5520 140th Ln NW. City Staff has received new information in regards to the duration and the regularity of boarding services that conflicts with previously provided information. City Staff was not aware that dogs, other than those owned by the Applicant, were regularly maintained on the Subject Property. Furthermore, the frequency and duration of boarding services appears to be greater than originally conveyed to City Staff. In light of this updated information, City Staff does not find it reasonable to permit the requested twelve (12) dogs on the Subject Property and therefore is not supportive of this option. Option 4: Do not approve Resolutions #14-09-174 and #14-09-175 denying a conditional use permit to maintain four or more dogs at the property located at 5520 140th Ln NW. This option would result in the Applicant not only terminating the boarding of dogs owned by family and friends, but also require the removal of one (1) of the Applicant's four (4) dogs to be in compliance with City Code section 10-56. While the originally requested Permit is not recommended, City Staff does recommend modifications that still allow the Applicant to keep the four (4) dogs currently residing on the Subject Proeprty and therefore, City Staff does not recommend this option. Funding Source: All costs associated with this request are the Applicant's responsibility. Recommendation: The Planning Commission recommends approving Resolutions #14-09-174 and #14-09-175 granting a conditional use permit to maintain up to seven (7) dogs on the property located at 5520 140th Ln NW. Action: