Severance planning commission approves home-based dog grooming at 979 Mouflon Drive

The Severance Planning Commission approved a use-by-special-review to allow a home-based dog-grooming business to operate at 979 Mouflon Drive during a May planning commission meeting (date not specified). The permit was granted with an additional building-department condition requiring waste from the grooming tub be connected to the sanitary sewer by an indirect waste pipe or floor sink.

Planner Regina Olsen presented the staff report, saying the applicant seeks to relocate an existing home-based grooming operation that was originally approved in 2023. "The staff recommends that the planning commission approve this use by special review ... for a home based business for the dog grooming with the additional condition labeled item e," Olsen said. She told the commission the grooming would occur in the third garage stall, customers would park in the driveway, services would be provided between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. three days a week with an occasional Saturday, and on average "fewer than 20 dogs receive grooming services a week."

Applicant Jackie Russell, owner of Jack Russell Grooming, told the commission she has run the business for almost two years and has 16 years of grooming experience. "The grooming industry is regulated by the Department of Agriculture and PACFA," Russell said, referring to the Pet Animal Facility Care Act; she stated she holds the relevant license. Russell described noise-mitigation measures — insulating and drywalling the salon area, insulating garage doors, and keeping most appointments one-on-one — and said she does not post advertising signs on the house beyond a small welcome marker.

Members of the public offered mixed comments. Heather Lang of 975 Mouflon Drive asked whether the Metro District and neighborhood covenants (CC&Rs) had been considered; she said she was "all for this" but wanted to know the timeline of any Metro District approvals. Susanna Pavlovich, 1044 Uriel Drive, said she and her partner work from home and were concerned about noise and traffic along the adjacent greenbelt. Caitlin Cinnamon, 1046 Uriel Drive, spoke in support and said the soundproofing description addressed her noise concerns.

Town staff member Nick (last name not specified) addressed permitting jurisdiction. "As far as the town side as the Metro District, it does not pertain to how this board makes action," he said. "We'll take action. The council will take action. The homeowner just has to work with the Metro District." The building department referral asked for the waste-connection condition; staff added that as condition (item e) to the resolution.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about prior complaints, the location of the outdoor relief/run area and whether animals would be left unattended. Russell said she had received no complaints through the town or the Metro District during the prior two years, described the fenced relief area adjacent to the garage, and stated animals would be handled on leash and would not be left unattended in the run. She said typical appointment flow is staggered and that she rarely has more than two client families on site at once.

Vice Chair Peroni opened the vote after a motion to approve with the staff condition; the motion passed by roll call with all voting commissioners present voting in favor. Chair Quandt recused from this matter and stepped aside for the public hearing. The public hearing opened at 6:03 p.m. and closed at 6:28 p.m., according to the transcript.

The approval is location-specific; staff and the applicant noted the operator must satisfy the building-department requirement for grooming-waste disposal and coordinate any remaining Metro District approvals.