Land Use Commission recommends approval for Tails Together kennel at 2900 Central Street

The Evanston Land Use Commission recommended that city council approve a special use permit allowing Tails Together to keep adoptable dogs overnight at 2900 Central Street.

Tails Together, a nonprofit founded in November 2024, seeks permission to operate retail and adoption services in the building’s Central Street storefront and to allow adoptable dogs to remain onsite overnight in the rear building as part of its managed-intake shelter operations. Christina Rosinia, CEO and co-founder of Tails Together, told the commission the organization plans to open full operations this fall and described the site layout and day-to-day operations. "We are applying for special use permission for 2900 Central Street," Rosinia said, describing a front retail and adoption space and a separate rear building for short-term animal wellness and storage.

The proposal limits on-site animals to the organization’s adoptable animals only; the shelter would not board outside animals or offer overnight boarding to the public. Rosinia said employees and volunteers would staff the facility roughly 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday open hours to the public, with on-call staff coverage and veterinary partners available to respond to incidents. She told the commission Tails Together plans a cage-free front space for cats and glass enclosures visible from the street, small-mammal housing, and quiet furnished rooms for dogs that would be used only for short stays while animals await foster placement.

Opponents who live directly behind the property raised noise and nuisance concerns during public testimony. Jansy Jerome, an adjacent resident at 2903 Harrison Street, said neighbors "support the mission" but asked the commission to deny the special use because of worries that overnight dogs could bark and disrupt sleep. Michael Hevner, a resident at 2831 Harrison Street, asked the commission to seek a written opinion from the fire department and the nearby daycare about proximity and operational impacts, saying, "There needs to be much more response on this matter." Elizabeth Majes asked whether the special use would apply only to Tails Together; staff clarified that a special-use approval applies to the named use and operator and that a separate application would be required for a different business with a materially different operation.

City staff recommended approval with six conditions meant to limit impacts. Among the main conditions discussed were sound-mitigation measures for all areas where dogs would stay overnight (soundproofing, cameras and white-noise machines), hours of public operation limited initially to 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday (with administrative authority to expand hours up to 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.), prohibition on employee street parking during public hours, and a requirement to record the ordinance with the Cook County recorder of deeds. Planning staff explained that the applicant must submit building plans showing how soundproofing will be achieved and that those plans will be inspected as part of the building-permit review. The commission noted Evanston’s existing noise ordinance and legal mechanisms (complaint enforcement and possible revocation of a special use for failure to meet conditions) as avenues for neighbors to seek remedies if problems arise.

During deliberations commissioners expressed support for the proposal’s goals while acknowledging neighbors’ concerns about noise and refuse. Commissioners asked about refuse handling, walk-routing for volunteers, fire-department review, the lease and ownership status, capacity estimates, and the organization's foster network. Rosinia said the organization has foster homes and volunteer networks in the North Shore, anticipates helping about 1,000 animals a year initially, has a pending 10‑year lease with an option to buy, and plans dumpsters in the parking lot and a volunteer training program for on‑street waste collection and route scheduling.

On a motion to recommend approval of the special use with staff-recommended conditions, the commission voted 8–0 in favor. The commission’s positive recommendation will be forwarded to the city council, the determining body for special-use approvals under the Evanston zoning ordinance.

Votes at a glance: The Land Use Commission recommended approval, 8–0.

What’s next: The city council will receive the commission’s recommendation and consider the special-use ordinance at a future meeting. If council approves, the applicant must complete required building-permit work, comply with conditions (including the sound-mitigation measures), and record the ordinance with the Cook County recorder of deeds before the use takes effect.