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Committee recommends allowing fenced outdoor exercise areas for boarding kennels in commercial zones
Summary
The ordinance committee voted to send to the full Area Plan Commission a staff amendment that would allow boarding kennels in commercial zones to include exterior exercise yards or runs, provided they are fenced to confine animals. The change aligns commercial and rural permitted conditions and was advertised for APC this month.
The ordinance and by-law committee on June 4, 2025, considered a staff-proposed cleanup amendment to the Unified Zoning Ordinance concerning boarding kennels. Under current text, the commercial-zone section prohibited exterior runs, exercise yards, or other outdoor facilities; staff proposed removing that blanket prohibition and instead requiring fence enclosures so commercial kennels may provide outdoor exercise areas similar to kennels in rural zones.
Amanda Esposito explained that administrative officers recommended allowing outdoor areas in commercial locations for humane reasons and to align the commercial section with the rural special conditions, which already require exterior areas to be fenced. The proposal would delete the prohibition language and add a requirement that outdoor spaces be enclosed by a fence capable of confining animals.
The committee moved and seconded a motion to forward the amendment to the full Area Plan Commission with a positive recommendation; the motion carried on a voice vote. Staff said the amendment has been advertised and can be heard by the APC this month.
No zoning text was adopted at the meeting; staff will prepare final ordinance language for APC consideration.
