Council denies amendment to allow kennel in Maple Valley mixed-use district

The Omaha City Council on Jan. 28 denied an ordinance seeking a major amendment to the Maple Valley Mixed Use District development agreement that would have allowed a kennel as a permitted use at 16510 Bedford Avenue, voting 7-0.

Councilwoman Melton said the planning department and planning board had recommended denial because the city’s current master plan does not treat kennels as an accepted use in that mixed-use designation. Melton urged the council to address definitions that separate kennels from dog day-care businesses and asked that changes be considered through the master planning committee and planning board rather than by approving a single exception.

The planning director present (Fanshaw) told the council the current code is narrow by design and agreed that changes to definitions and zoning allowances should be discussed more broadly. Planning staff and the planning board recommended denial of the amendment for this specific site.

During discussion council members noted earlier examples in the city where businesses classified as dog day cares had operated under variances or waivers. Several members said they supported the business concept but not a site-specific amendment that would circumvent the master plan and existing zoning framework. A motion to deny carried unanimously.

The denial leaves intact the current master plan restrictions at the 16510 Bedford Avenue location. Councilmembers and staff said they plan to pursue a broader review of definitions and where dog day-care uses might be allowed in the city’s zoning map rather than approving a single-site exception.

The item record shows the planning board and planning department recommended denial; the council’s vote was 7 to 0 to deny the ordinance.