Sunbury commission splits 3–3 on in-home pet-sitting permit; motion fails

The Sunbury Planning & Zoning Commission deadlocked 3–3 on March 23 over whether a home-occupation certificate should be issued to Little Critters Pet Sitters LLC at 125 Harrison Street.

Staff told the commission the applicant had supplied neighbor letters requested at a prior meeting, with the immediate west neighbor (133 Harrison) not providing a letter. Commissioners debated whether the home-occupation ordinance, written primarily for professional offices, appropriately covers in-home pet care.

One commissioner said the submission proposed "a limit of 10 client dogs as well as six personal dogs," and several colleagues said numerical caps should be set only where grounded in code language or objective metrics, like required square footage. A motion to approve the certificate as submitted—reflecting the applicant's packet including a 10-dog limit—was made and seconded. Roll call yielded yes votes from Mrs. Miller, Mr. Palma and Mrs. Stark, and no votes from Mayor St. John, Mr. Long and Mr. Soldman, so the motion failed.

City staff clarified that, because the commission is constrained by current code language for home occupations, the better remedy is to update zoning language rather than unilaterally impose conditions the code does not expressly permit. Commissioners directed staff to place home-occupation code revision on the zoning-code review list and to return with recommended language that could address pet-based home businesses.

Next steps: The applicant may amend the application if she wishes to reduce the requested limits. The commission did not grant the certificate at this meeting; staff will return to the commission when the code review or any new application proceeds.