Allentown zoning board denies Camp Bow Wow interpretation request for 627 Hamilton

The Allentown City Zoning Hearing Board on July 21 denied an interpretation request from Hunter's Camp LLC and property owner 627 West Hamilton LLC seeking to classify a proposed animal services facility at 627 Hamilton Street as a permitted personal-service/"animal services" use rather than a kennel.

The board's decision means the applicant must pursue a formal variance or wait for the pending zoning rewrite rather than rely on a favorable interpretation. The board discussed whether the proposed use — a daytime-focused dog day-care with grooming and limited, accessory overnight capacity — fits under the current B‑2 code definitions.

Hunter's Camp LLC owner Robert Ludwig described the business model and existing Camp Bow Wow operations outside downtown, telling the board the proposed downtown site would focus on day care, grooming and short-term client care and would not be a primary boarding facility. Ludwig said the proposed layout includes three indoor play yards, an interior grooming room, and 18 cabins (six-by-four and four-by-four cabins, 6 feet tall) used primarily to rest or isolate dogs during the day. "I prefer not to" offer overnight boarding, Ludwig said when asked directly about overnight stays.

Attorney Jeff Fleischaker, representing Hunter's Camp LLC, argued the proposed operation is closer to a personal-service or the zoning-draft category “animal services,” noting the city's draft zoning update explicitly includes pet daycares. He told the board the facility is intended as a daytime urban amenity and that any overnight housing would be accessory and rare.

Board members said the pending zoning rewrite is not in force and that the hearing must rely on the ordinance as currently adopted. Members questioned whether the words in the existing definition of "kennel" and the phrase "housed" plainly cover the proposed operation, and stressed enforcement concerns if the board were to limit overnight stays by condition. The zoning office and several board members also noted that veterinarian clinics are not permitted in B‑2, which complicated comparisons to other animal-care uses.

After discussion, a board member moved to deny the requested favorable interpretation on the grounds that the current ordinance does not permit the proposed use as described. The motion was seconded and the board recorded two affirmative votes; one member was not recorded as voting. The denial leaves the applicant the option to apply for a variance or to refile if the city adopts the draft ordinance that adds an "animal services" category.

Hunter's Camp presented letters of support from City Center and the Downtown Allentown Alliance and said the business plans to coordinate any rare overnight boardings at its larger suburban location. The applicant also described outreach to neighboring property owners and said they had visited the existing Camp Bow Wow location to demonstrate noise and odor controls.

The board admitted the applicant's exhibits and closed the record on the interpretation request. The applicant was told to pursue other administrative or legislative paths if it wished to proceed.