Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council OKs land-use variance for small dog daycare at 2110 Vermilion Road
Summary
The Vermilion City Council adopted Ordinance 2025-14 after a public hearing in which the applicant described plans for a small dog daycare and overnight boarding operation and neighbors raised noise and traffic concerns.
The Vermilion City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2025-14, granting a land-use zoning variance to allow a small dog daycare and overnight boarding business at 2110 Vermilion Road.
Applicant Randy Cassidy told the council he intends a small, home-based operation with no more than about seven dogs on site at a time and indoor daytime housing. "Basically, I wanna start a dog day care and an overnight boarding service," Cassidy said during the public hearing. He said he plans to keep the business small because he is retiring and wants supplemental income while collecting Social Security.
The matter drew neighbors to the public hearing. Resident Eric McQueen said he has lived in the neighborhood his entire life and opposed the change: "I couldn't imagine living next door to something like that." Jean Anderson, who spoke after McQueen, noted the property is in an A-1 agricultural district and reminded the council that agricultural zoning permits many kinds of animals, which she said factored into her view of the request.
Council discussion focused on noise, liability insurance and on-site containment. Service Director Tony Valerius and other staff answered procedural questions about inspections, permits and where animals would be housed at night. Cassidy described conversion of an attached garage space to animal housing with crates and an outdoor chain-link fenced run; he said he would obtain liability insurance before opening.
The ordinance was placed before the council for adoption later in the meeting. On the roll call, Councilmember Craig Drew, Councilmember (last name) Worley, Councilmember Wes (last name), Councilmember Jeff Lucas, Councilmember Terry Howe and Councilmember Harris voted yes; Councilmember Brian Holmes voted no. The ordinance passed.
The council recorded no change to operating conditions or a permit schedule during the motion; council members and staff discussed enforcement options available under existing animal-control and nuisance ordinances should complaints arise.
The vote completes the variance process for 2110 Vermilion Road under the city’s zoning code (Codified Ordinances §1240.02). The council noted neighbors’ concerns and emphasized that any future complaints about noise, animal control or public-safety issues would be handled under existing codes and enforcement procedures.
