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Stark County planning panel recommends conditional use permit for kennel at rural Highway 8 property
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously April 30 to recommend approval of a conditional use permit to convert an event center into a kennel and dog daycare operated by Mary Jo Wix; staff recommended approval subject to conditions and the item moves to the county commission next week.
The Stark County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously April 30 to recommend approval of a conditional use permit to allow a kennel, dog daycare and related uses on a roughly 40-acre property at 4022 Highway 8 South.
Applicant Mary Jo Wix told the commission she plans to convert an existing event center on the ranch into a boarding and daycare operation, starting with 19 kennels and the option to add 14 more if demand warrants. "We're planning to start with 19 total and then if there is demand, I would add another 14 kennels," Wix said. She described 4-by-6 and 4-by-8 kennel configurations and private "suite" rooms for dogs that are anxious or need quieter space.
Wix said outdoor exercise areas would be secured with 8-foot deer fencing buried about 1 foot to prevent digging and fitted with "coyote rollers" to deter climbing. She told the commission she would not leave dogs unattended outside and emphasized steps to limit barking: "I don't want to make any problems for our neighbors with barking dogs," she said, adding the facility would provide supervised play and exercise.
County planner Steve Josephson summarized staff's review and recommended approval "subject to conditions you find on page three and four of the staff report," noting the applicant had reviewed the conditions and did not object. Josephson also said staff had received limited public contact about the application and that notice was provided to adjacent property owners.
A commissioner moved to recommend approval of the permit as presented; after a roll-call vote the motion carried unanimously. The transcript records the commission voting "I" (aye) across all members present; the recommendation will be forwarded to the County Commission for final action next week.
The agenda listed the application as "CUP 011-2026" for "Mary Jo and Zane Wicks," while the applicant self-identified in the hearing as "Mary Jo Wix." The record contains that inconsistency; the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation was to approve the conditional use permit as presented and with the staff conditions on the report.
The commission did not report additional public comments at the hearing. The next formal step is consideration by the County Commission at its meeting next week.
