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Board grants special exception for Giant Paws Prints kennel with conditions on capacity and screening
Summary
Porter County approved a special exception to allow a kennel and rehabilitation facility at 325 East 200 North in Valparaiso (I‑1 zone); approval caps on‑site dogs at eight, requires waste management and screening, and references private well/septic permits.
The Porter County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception (SE‑2024‑75) allowing Giant Paws Prints to operate a kennel and dog‑rehabilitation facility at 325 East 200 North in Washington Township. The board’s approval included operational details discussed at the hearing: a maximum of eight dogs on site at a time, outdoor runs screened to reduce noise, a quarantine run, waste removal each shift and volunteer staffing rather than paid employees.
Haley Skalka, an agent for the petitioner, described a proposed 4,784‑square‑foot building on a 3.16‑acre property with three outdoor runs (each about 56 by 87 feet), an 8‑by‑8 quarantine area and a common indoor area; soil borings and a septic/well permit process were discussed and the petitioner reported soil testing and a proposed location for septic. The applicant said the facility is intended to rehabilitate and rehome large or medically needy dogs that many rescues will not accept.
Board discussion focused on noise, waste management and site layout. Board members recommended plantings (for example, arborvitae) to provide additional sound buffering and asked for a parking plan and ongoing waste removal procedures. The petitioner said outdoor areas would be supervised by staff or volunteers and that waste would be removed during every shift.
Action and conditions: The board voted to grant the special exception. The approval was described as contingent on the site meeting standard setbacks and health/safety permitting; the petitioner agreed to limit on‑site dogs to eight, maintain screening around runs, and manage waste removal on each shift. The board noted that any future change of use or expansion would require returning to the board for additional review.
Vote: The transcript records affirmative roll‑call votes for the motion to approve (members identified in the record as Marvin [Bushner/Bergner], Brian and Debbie — all recorded “yes”).
What’s next: The petitioner must finalize septic and well permitting and submit any required site‑plan or building permits to Porter County before commencing operations; the board retained authority to require return for any change in use or expansion.
