Planning commission adds commercial kennels to college-residential zoning and backs applicant’s special-use permit with conditions

Prince Edward County planning commissioners voted Jan. 21 to add “commercial kennels” as an allowed use by special‑use permit in the college‑residential zoning district and recommended approval of an individual special‑use permit for a small in‑home dog daycare proposed by applicant Lindsay Mulvey.

The ordinance amendment, introduced by county staff and described at the meeting as a placeholder to allow review of dog‑daycare operations in the Hampden‑Sydney College residential district, passed on a roll call vote by the commission. Commissioners then considered Mulvey’s special‑use permit application for an in‑home dog daycare and boarding operation at a 1.07‑acre lot on the college property; after public comment and questions the commission approved the permit with conditions and sent it to the Board of Supervisors for final action at its Feb. 11 meeting.

Why it matters: The code change does not itself authorize any business; it allows the county to consider and condition commercial kennel uses in the college‑residential district through the special‑use permitting process. The…