Carroll County commissioners deny conditional-use permit for Oak Grove Road kennel after neighbors cite noise and safety concerns

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 2 denied a conditional-use permit request for a dog kennel at 1460 Oak Grove Road, voting 7-0 to reject the applicant's request after residents raised noise and safety concerns.

Carmen Barber, the applicant, told the board she operates part-time kennel services from her home, said she holds a state kennel license and that many of the animals stay inside her house. "I have kennels at my home and I started keeping a few babies for friends of mine and then it turned into ... I got on the Rover app and started getting new clients," Barber said, adding that customers do not come earlier than 7 a.m. or leave later than 7 p.m. and that she does not keep violent dogs.

Neighbors described a different experience. "We actually hear these dogs a lot," said Rhea Kirk, who lives at 1588 Oak Grove Road. Kirk told the board that she only learned of the kennel through a rezoning notice and expressed concern about increased numbers of dogs and the potential for escapes. Gerald Putman, who lives at 1430 Oak Grove Road, said a dog recently chased him while he was checking his mailbox; he described a resulting shoulder injury that required therapy.

Ben Skipper, director of community development, told the board that the Planning and Zoning Commission delivered no recommendation and that county planning staff recommended denial. He explained a complicating administrative issue: the Georgia Department of Agriculture may issue state kennel licenses without notifying Carroll County animal-control staff, creating a gap between state licensing and the county's requirement that kennels in agricultural zones obtain a conditional-use permit and a county business license.

Skipper said Carroll County Animal Control is auditing active kennels to reconcile state records with county permits; county code requires a conditional-use permit for kennels in agricultural zoning so adjoining property owners and the board can review the use. Commissioners cited staff recommendation and constituent calls in voting to deny the application.

The motion to deny passed 7-0. The application was recorded as CD-25-08-01. Staff noted the applicant had a state kennel license but no current Carroll County business permit; the county said a business license for a home-based kennel would cost $150 and that a conditional-use permit is required in agricultural zones.