Chicopee committee approves amendment to kennel permit at 25 Mayflower Avenue after health and animal-control inspections

The Chicopee City zoning subcommittee on Oct. 29 approved an amendment to a residential kennel special permit that allows the owner at 25 Mayflower Avenue to maintain up to 10 dogs on the property.

Applicant Britney Morris told the committee she shows and handles champion French bulldogs and sometimes houses dogs for showing and related activities. “My dogs are not out at night. They’re not barking. They’re not disrupting the peace,” Morris said.

Department inspections and written comments were central to the committee’s review. Planning staff recommended approval provided compliance with ordinances and health standards. The fire department requested an evacuation/fire safety plan and functioning smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms to meet the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code. The engineering department had no site-improvement comments.

Health Department Director Lisa Sanders said the site inspection found a clean, odor-free home, sanitary crates and an adequately fenced yard. “We did a site inspection yesterday. We found her house to be very clean, odor free,” Sanders said.

Renee Robichaud of Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control described the state nomenclature for kennels and said the dogs at Morris’s residence appeared healthy and well cared for. Robichaud added that the requested increase appeared to be an abundance-of-compliance measure to accommodate occasional breeding or visiting dogs related to showing; staff emphasized that kennel licenses are subject to annual inspection and revocation if conditions deteriorate. “They all the dogs looked great. They looked very healthy and very well taken care of,” Robichaud said.

Neighbors who spoke offered mixed comments. Several nearby residents praised Morris and said the dogs are well cared for, while one resident raised questions about traffic on the street and the potential for increased drop-off activity. Morris and family members said the dogs live indoors, use dog doors for yard access, and are closely supervised.

Councilors discussed the distinction between commercial kennels and residential kennel permits, enforcement options and operational definitions. Councilor Brooks, the ward councilor who lives nearby, said he visited the property and found mature arborvitae and fence screening that limit visibility into the yard, and he expressed confidence in the applicant’s care and the departmental recommendations.

Councilor Brooks moved to approve the amendment to the special permit; the committee voted unanimously in favor (Balakar, LaBrie, Shumsky, Brooks and Goff). The chair said the permit approval will be placed on the full City Council agenda on Nov. 6. TJO will inspect the property annually and the license is subject to revocation if health or public-safety conditions are not met.