Stockbridge planning commission approves Dogs Help LLC Phase 2 site plan after sewer review

The Village of Stockbridge Planning Commission unanimously approved the Phase 2 site plan for Dogs Help LLC on Nov. 7, 2024, after discussing whether the village sanitary system could handle additional effluent from two new buildings. Commissioner Daryl Anderson moved for approval; Jennifer Conant seconded, and a roll-call vote recorded a 5–0 approval.

The approval was conditioned on full compliance with Ordinance 34-102 and on maintaining the submitted Kebs, Inc. blueprints dated Aug. 28, 2024, with any changes requiring prior commission approval. The commission also required the village engineer and the zoning administrator to verify the sanitary system’s adequacy as part of implementation and permitting.

Scott Horner, owner of Dogs Help LLC, presented the plan and flagged concerns about increased sanitary discharge and the village pump station, referencing prior clogging between the lift station and the main. Horner described short-term fixes already in use, including strainers and adjustments to water flow, and said the measures had prevented problems in the prior seven to eight months.

Donald B. Heck, P.E., a representative of Wolverine Engineering & Surveyors Inc., reviewed system design and maintenance history and said the existing infrastructure is adequate. "The 1 ½\" sanitary pipe was adequate to handle the increased and existing volume of effluent," Heck said, adding that continued monitoring and standard filtration in the new buildings were prudent.

Minutes and technical conditions were linked to the building permit process. The commission discussed operational measures — installing strainers and additional filtration in buildings two and three, using dumpsters for solid waste, and a shared-risk approach for future blockages — and noted that a minimum flow of about 200 gallons per pump cycle helps prevent clogs and that the system currently pumps over that volume each cycle.

Commissioners also reviewed project timing and permits: applicants were told to submit building permit applications before Nov. 8, 2025, to avoid processing issues; the commission noted a planned staggered start and an approximate 18‑month construction timeline with possible extensions. The meeting record lists follow-up tasks including verifying sanitary connections and monitoring the effectiveness of strainers and pump adjustments.

The commission adjourned at 7:42 p.m.; unapproved minutes were to be provided the next day to facilitate permit processing.