Kent County holds public hearing on bill to license fox-hunting kennels

The Kent County Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing May 13 on Code Home Rule Bill No. 3-2025, a proposed amendment to the county's public local laws to add a new Article 2 to Chapter 64 (Animals) establishing licensing requirements for fox-hunting club dog kennels. The hearing took place in the commissioners' hearing room at the Clayton Mitchell Jr. Kent County Government Center in Chestertown.

The clerk read the notice into the record, describing the bill as "an act to amend public local laws of Kent County by revising chapter 64 animals by adding a new article 2 and providing for an effective date" and stating that the ordinance "establishes requirements for licensing fox hunting club dog kennels in Kent County" and "covers only the physical facilities where hounds are kept." The notice said the proposed legislation is a companion to a zoning amendment adopted earlier this year (CHR 9-2024) that allows kennels in certain zoning districts and that a complete copy of the draft bill is available in the commissioners' office and on the county website.

Why it matters: The text amendment would move from a zoning allowance to a detailed regulatory framework for kennel facilities. That framework will determine how clubs apply for licenses, how facilities must manage animal waste and on-site operations, and what conditions neighborhoods near kennels may expect.

Staff and applicant comments: County staff present included Mackey and Gerber, who assisted in drafting the rules. Mackey told the commission he prepared the initial draft and was "very curious to hear how the public hearing goes." Representatives for the applicant, identified in the hearing as representing the Y Coma Go Hunt Club, asked the commission to adopt the ordinance quickly so the club can submit applications and "get the hounds home." As counsel for the club said, "all that I ask is that this be adopted as soon as possible. If that's today, that would be, fantastic so that we may move forward and keep things in this, forward momentum and get the hounds home." (Applicant counsel comment.)

Substantive question from the record: One attendee who identified themselves as a farmer questioned a draft provision referencing a "nutrient management plan," saying, "as a farmer, a nutrient management plan is what we have to take to the state every year for what we're gonna put on our lands, and then we have to do an annual implementation report to the state. That's the only type of nutrient management plan that I'm familiar with, and I question whether that is relevant to a kennel with hounds in it." (Commenter, identified as a farmer.) Mackey responded that the county uses a similar requirement for all animal-based uses to address on-site waste and that the language in the draft intended to address waste management for kennels. Mackey and others agreed the wording could be clarified; Mackey said staff could "fix that." (Staff reply.)

Process and next steps: The clerk's notice reminded the public that the draft text is available in the commissioners' office and on the county website and that this public hearing is part of the formal process for amending county public local laws. No final vote on Code Home Rule Bill No. 3-2025 was recorded during the hearing. The item remains pending and subject to further revision based on comments received at the hearing.

Meeting context: Four individuals had signed up to speak for this public hearing. County staff described the bill as a companion to the earlier zoning amendment (CHR 9-2024) that allowed kennel uses in certain districts; the hearing focused on draft operational and facility standards, including the disputed wording around a nutrient/waste-management plan. The record shows the applicant seeks prompt adoption to begin permitting; staff acknowledged a drafting point that will be corrected.

For readers: A complete copy of the proposed ordinance was available at the commissioners' office and on the county website; contact information was included in the hearing notice for anyone requiring communication assistance.