River Heights panel approves kennel permit for Ballard family, requires fenced yard by April

The River Heights City Planning Commission on Sept. 23 approved a conditional kennel permit for Brenda and Cassandra Ballard of 390 East 700 South with conditions requiring a fenced confinement area and compliance with city animal code.

Brenda and Cassandra Ballard told the commission they own three dogs, two of which they described as service animals. One dog is a trained service dog for an older daughter; a second dog is being trained for a younger daughter with cerebral palsy who needs help opening doors and retrieving assistive devices. The couple said a third dog is a pet that proved too protective to qualify as a service animal.

Ballard said the property is under construction and that they currently use a temporary 15-by-5 panel enclosure and a fenced dog run for confinement. She told the commission two of the dogs are “with us 90% of the time” and that dogs are leashed when outside the run. She said the family already picks up animal waste and disposes of it in their dumpster.

City planning staff (referred to in the record as Sheila) and commissioners discussed code requirements. Staff pointed to River Heights City Code governing kennels and animal nuisances (Chapter 5, Subchapter 2 and provisions referenced as 5-2-4 in the discussion) and said a fenced confinement area is required by the code. Commissioners indicated they have imposed deadlines for fence completion in prior cases and offered that a condition with a completion date was appropriate.

The commission approved the permit with the following conditions read into the record: animals must be confined to a fully fenced area; the applicants must review and follow River Heights City Code Chapter 5 (animal nuisance and kennel rules); the permit is void if the applicants vacate the property; and the required fence must be completed by April (no year specified in the record). The commission added that if construction delays prevent meeting the deadline the applicants should notify the commission to request an extension.

What happens next: the permit becomes official after the administrative processing following the next meeting; staff told the applicants the commission would notify them when the minutes and formal paperwork are ready. The commission noted that repeated nuisance complaints or animal-control responses could subject a kennel permit to revocation under the city code.

Votes at a glance

- Kennel conditional use permit (390 East 700 South; Brenda and Cassandra Ballard) — Approved, with conditions (fenced confinement; complete fence by April; comply with Chapter 5 animal code; permit void if they move).