Planning commission recommends approval of special-exception permit for dog kennel at 24950 West Soapstone Road

The Amelia County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a special-exception permit to operate a dog kennel at 24950 West Soapstone Road, tax map 38-13A, with the conditions proposed by county staff.

Michael, planning staff, told commissioners the application by applicant Andrew Jordan asks for a kennel use permitted by special exception under the A-5 Agriculture District. "The applicant for this application is Andrew Jordan, We're requesting a special exception permit to operate a dog kennel use. That property located at 24950 West Soapstone Road, identified as tax map 38Dash13 a on the Amelia County real property identification map," Michael said during his staff report. He reviewed the A-5 zoning purpose, the kennel definition and the county's special-exception criteria.

The staff report noted the kennel definition includes "a place designed to house, board, breed, handle, or otherwise keep or care for dogs 4 months old or older for sale or in return for compensation," and that individuals with three or fewer litters per year may operate under home-occupation rules. Staff recommended approval with conditions including that structures and active components associated with the kennel comply with 100-foot setbacks from front, side and rear property lines and that the uses be limited to activities such as housing/boarding, breeding/sale, keeping/care and handling/training of dogs as approved.

Applicant Andrew Jordan spoke during the public hearing and described his operation and training activities. He did not provide a fixed limit on the number of dogs, citing uncertainty about setting a fixed cap: "I don't know. Like, I don't wanna restrict it and say, like, 3 dogs and then say I get 5 dogs. But, I know neither of us wanna have a hundred dogs either. So I don't know where do you draw the line. It's hard to say." Jordan said he currently breeds and trains retrievers, performs health clearances and has discussed the plan with nearby neighbors.

Commissioners asked about facility size and hours; Jordan said he stores hay in an existing 40-by-48 barn and that dogs are generally quiet at night and kept inside in a climate-controlled kennel when appropriate. After closing the public hearing, the commission voted to recommend approval subject to the staff conditions. The planning commission's motion was made by "Easter" and seconded by "Ramsey," and the chair called for ayes before saying, "Motion carries. Mister Jordan, you'll come before the board of supervisors" for the next step in the approval process. The date the applicant will appear before the Board of Supervisors was discussed onscreen and spoken about inconsistently during the meeting; the commission's direction was that Jordan will present at the supervisors' meeting in the coming months.

The recommendation to the Board of Supervisors does not itself authorize operation of the kennel; final approval and any additional conditions or permit requirements will be set by the Board. Staff advised that a business license and any required health or animal-care permits would also be required as separate processes.