Kent County holds public hearing on zoning amendment to allow fox-hunting kennels on farms

A public hearing at the Kent County commissioners’ meeting on Feb. 4 brought neighbors, hunt-club members and county staff to the podium to debate a zoning text amendment that would allow a “dog kennel — fox hunting club” as an accessory use on farms in the Resource Conservation District (RCD).

The amendment, introduced in Code Home Rule Bill 9-2024, would add the use to the Kent County land use ordinance and include a definition describing the keeping, breeding and training of hounds owned by a fox hunting club "for the purpose of participating in the sport of fox chasing," county staff said. County planning staff and advisory boards provided favorable recommendations, but residents asked county leaders to weigh noise, safety and setback questions.

County Planning Director Carla told the board, “What you have before you is a text amendment to the land use ordinance that would add a new accessory use to the Resource Conservation District on farms for a dog kennel — fox hunting club,” and said both the Planning Commission and the Agricultural Advisory Commission recommended approval as consistent with the comprehensive plan.

Supporters representing the Wicomico Hunt Club said the change would allow the club to base kennels in Kent County after having its kennels in Queen Anne’s County. Genevieve McFarland, who said she represented the applicant, said the club wants to base its kennels at 12474 Barrett Farm Road in Wharton and that the amendment was needed because the RCD currently disallows commercial kennels. Ed Frey, joining by Zoom as a master of the Wicomico Hunt Club, said the club dates to about 96 years and noted local ties and youth participation.

Eden Clutzley, the property owner and the club’s designated huntsman, described site details and management plans. She said the proposed kennel building sits down in a hollow screened by mature woods, would be insulated, and that the operation would manage waste by pumping an existing septic holding tank monthly. “The waste will be properly managed, which is important to me and I’m sure any other legislature because it’s in a critical area,” Clutzley said.

Residents who live near the proposed site urged caution. Sean Maloney, who identified himself as a lifelong Kent County resident and provided a noise analysis binder to the commissioners, cited published sources and university research to warn that hounds can be very vocal and that baying can carry far. “American foxhounds are famous for being vocal… the ‘bae’ can be heard for miles,” Maloney said, summarizing materials he provided to the board. Other neighbors said they were worried about small pets and children encountering working hounds if any animals escaped.

The applicant’s witnesses described mitigations. McFarland and club members said the kennels were for working hounds, not a commercial boarding or retail operation; Jeremy (last name not specified), a Wicomico member who said he is a planner by training, told commissioners the amendment is narrowly drafted for the RCD and is meant to support an established, sanctioned hunt club rather than open a general commercial kennel use. Eden Clutzley said the pack will be worked and exercised in organized walks and taken to farm fixtures; she estimated the kennel would house about 40 hounds and said breeding would be limited to maintain pack numbers.

Commissioners and staff pressed for specifics: whether kennels in existing buildings would be exempt from the 200-foot setback required in other districts (staff said yes), whether the existing building at the Barrett Farm Road site is within the 200-foot setback (Clutzley said it is approximately 100 feet from side and rear lot lines), and how the county would handle future increases in club membership or pack size. Planning staff and the applicant said the pack size would remain roughly constant and that the text amendment is limited to farms over 20 acres in the RCD.

The Planning Commission’s favorable recommendation was entered into the record; its November 7, 2024 letter shows a 6–0 vote in support. The Agricultural Advisory Commission’s favorable letter, dated November 2024 and signed by Jennifer Dednam, also was read into the record.

President Ronald H. Fifthian and other commissioners kept the hearing open for written comments through the close of business Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, and closed oral testimony the same evening. No final vote on the amendment was taken; the board announced the next decision date would be the March 4, 2025 legislative meeting.

The petition and supporting materials, including a full draft of Code Home Rule Bill 9-2024 and advisory-body letters, are available for review at the commissioners’ office, 400 High Street, Chestertown, and the record will include any written comments filed by Feb. 7.

For now, the amendment remains a proposal under review; the county will consider the Planning Commission recommendation, public testimony, the written record and required Critical Area Commission review under the Maryland Natural Resources Code before taking final action at a later legislative session.