Planning board recommends conditional rezoning for kennel at 264 Cayuga Drive

The Mooresville Planning Board voted to recommend that the Town Board approve a conditional rezoning to allow a kennel and pet boarding facility at 264 Cayuga Drive, a 2.39-acre site in Ward 2.

Sandy Howell, the town’s senior planner, told the board the applicant is seeking a conditional hybrid light industrial designation to permit a kennel and pet boarding as a conditional use. "Again, my name is Sandy Howell. I'm the senior planner for the planning board. And tonight, we're going to review a request for a conditional rezoning to allow a kennel facility," Howell said.

Staff reported the site was annexed with existing conditional county zoning and that the requested uses would follow hybrid light industrial regulations in the Unified Development Ordinance. Howell said the parcel is across from KC Kane's facility, surrounded by other commercial and light industrial uses, and is outside a 400-foot buffer that restricts certain uses adjacent to the Oak Brook subdivision. She noted the site is constrained by a stream buffer and that the concept plan proposes low-density development with abundant tree save and development under the town's 24 percent impervious coverage threshold. Staff recommended approval and found the map amendment standards satisfied.

Applicant John Darden, of Darden Engineering, confirmed he has met with representatives of the property’s commercial owners association and said he is working through any architectural or HOA requirements. Board members discussed the commercial HOA (Deerfield Business Park) and whether its rules would permit pet uses; Darden said he and the property owner have been in contact with Ron Smith of the commercial owners association and were "working through that as well." The neighborhood meeting for the application was held Jan. 30, 2025; staff recorded four property owners in attendance and said concerns raised at that meeting were sufficiently addressed.

Board member Mr. Capps moved to recommend approval, citing consistency with the town's One Mooresville plan and the facility's location away from residences. "I make an motion to recommend the the proposal is consistent with the town's 1 Mooresville plan," Capps said during his motion. Mr. Hooper seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously to forward the recommendation to the Town Board.

The Town Board will make the final decision; the rezoning recommendation does not make the use immediately allowable. The applicant must still satisfy any applicable HOA/COA requirements and follow final site-plan and permitting procedures under the Unified Development Ordinance.