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Commission recommends conditional use for home-based grooming but denies front-yard building placement
Summary
After extensive public support, the commission recommended approval of a conditional-use permit to allow dog grooming and low-volume boarding at 192 Richardson Street but denied the related variance to place an accessory structure in the driveway, citing emergency-access and placement concerns.
The Stephens County Planning Commission split its decision on linked applications from property owner Kelly Sabetti for 192 Richardson Street: the commission issued a positive recommendation for a conditional-use permit to allow home-based dog grooming and low-volume boarding, but denied the variance request to place the accessory structure in the front driveway.
Staff recommended denial of both applications, citing Stephens County Code (Chapter 59, Article 16, Sections 59-16-10 and 59-16-12), concerns about setback and precedent, and the potential to impede emergency vehicle access. Sabetti told the commission the lot is constrained by an older chain-link fence and limited side-yard clearance, making relocation of the building costly and disruptive. She described her operation as low-volume — "It would just be 1 person at a time" for grooming and, at most, a few boarding dogs on busier days — and said she would obtain required kennel licensing and state inspection if the permit were granted.
More than half a dozen residents and longtime clients testified in favor of the conditional use. Volunteer Chloe Sailors said she observed Sabetti's attention to animal welfare; clients and neighbors described difficulty finding nearby kennels and urged the commission to help retain a local service. Commissioners expressed sympathy for community need and the applicant's reputation but repeatedly raised concerns about placing a building in the driveway. Ultimately the commission concluded the grooming and boarding operation could be allowed under a conditional-use permit but the particular building placement requested would set an undesirable precedent and was denied.
The commission's favorable recommendation for the conditional-use permit will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for final action; the variance denial means the applicant would need to propose an alternate building location (side or rear yard) or proceed without the building placement requested in the variance.
