Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Use Permit Commercial Kennel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Montgomery County supervisors deny special-use permit for proposed commercial dog-breeding kennel after strong public opposition
Summary
After extensive public comment from neighbors and experts, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors voted 6–0 with one abstention to deny a special-use permit for a proposed commercial breeding kennel, citing community concerns about animal welfare, noise and environmental impact.
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors on Monday denied a special-use permit request for a proposed commercial dog-breeding kennel adjacent to homes in Pilot, following an hour of public comment and discussion.
Neighbors who live next to the proposed site urged the board to reject the application. "I don't believe Montgomery County needs a commercial breeding facility," said Matthew Watson, who lives on Pilot Road and said noise and the risk of runaway breeding were key concerns. Rhiannon Watson, a licensed veterinary technician, described differences between shelter and commercial-breeding practices and urged stricter oversight of health, vaccination and spay/neuter practices.
Applicant Jason Cowan, of 4342 Quince Road, told the board his operation would meet state inspection standards and that he currently keeps four animals that meet his breeding criteria. "We screen our people. We have a long application," Cowan said, adding he planned separate whelping boxes and indoor/outdoor access for animals.
Board members weighed strong public turnout and neighborhood opposition. "I've heard from over 30 people...the majority of them don't want this in their community," said Supervisor King. County planning staff (Bree) clarified that Montgomery County's ordinance contains no numeric breeding threshold for defining a business; rather, the special-use permit process can limit the number of dogs. Staff noted a typical SUP cap is 25 dogs over six months, and without the SUP an owner may still have up to 25 household pets if not operating as a commercial kennel.
The motion on the floor had been to approve the special-use permit. On the roll call vote, six supervisors voted no and one abstained, defeating the application. Chair Biggs said applicants may return with substantially revised plans but noted there may be a one-year wait before reapplication.
The denial leaves the applicant time to revise site and kennel plans or to seek other remedies; the board did not adopt code changes or new thresholds during the meeting. The board moved on afterward to a series of funding and intergovernmental items.
