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Council rejects conditional use permit for Renee’s Dog Spa after neighborhood objections
Summary
After a public hearing marked by neighbors’ safety and precedent concerns and supporters’ testimony about the groomer’s record, the Belgrade City Council voted 4–1 against a conditional use permit that would have allowed Renee Varner to operate a major home-based dog grooming business at 603 Meadow Circle.
The Belgrade City Council voted down a request to allow Renee Varner and Kevin Hannigan to operate a major home-based dog grooming business at 603 Meadow Circle after neighbors raised traffic, safety and precedent concerns.
Planning staff told the council the application met notice requirements but qualified as a “major” home business because it could bring additional customers and traffic to the dead-end residential street near Mayfair Meadows Park. Planning staff also reported the Belgrade City/County Planning Board had recommended denial following a 0–4 vote at its July 28, 2025 hearing citing neighborhood impacts.
Renee Varner, the applicant, told the council she has groomed dogs for 27 years and said she planned to operate from a garage rather than a commercial salon. “I’ve been a groomer for 27 years and in business for 21,” Varner said. “I operate out of a dog grooming trailer. I don’t have a salon. I’ve had it plugged in at my house for 8 years in Belgrade and Bozeman.”
Multiple nearby residents urged denial. Leonard Carden said the street is narrow and dead-ends at a planned bike park, which he said will increase pedestrian and vehicular activity: “It’s a 1-way street. It’s narrow and it leads to the bike park…That’s gonna increase more kids onto the street.” Sarah Orchard, who said she lives a block away and moved to Meadow Circle two years ago, told the council the area is zoned for low-density residential use and said allowing the business would set a harmful precedent. Orchard also pointed to covenant issues including an installed 6-foot fence and vehicles parked in the front yard.
Several customers testified in Varner’s favor. Client Chris Ortmeier, who said he had been a customer for seven-and-a-half years, described Varner as “the best groomer in the valley” and said he has never seen problems at prior residential or commercial locations where she worked.
After board discussion noting a mix of written public comments (the staff summary noted roughly 13 in support and seven opposed), Council Member [name read on the roll] moved to approve the permit. The roll-call vote returned four council votes against and one in favor; the mayor announced the motion failed 4–1.
The council did not adopt additional conditions as part of the failed motion. The denial leaves the applicants’ options open to seek other approved commercial locations or revise the application and return to the planning process.
The council moved on to remaining agenda items after the vote.
