Avon PZC approves Dogtopia dog daycare at 260 West Main with conditions

The Avon Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 9 approved a site plan for a Dogtopia dog daycare at 260 West Main Street, imposing conditions on capacity, staffing and outdoor play.

Applicants James Riley and Kayla Seely told the commission the tenant space is about 4,500 square feet and the national Dogtopia brand typically operates three indoor playrooms separating dogs by size and temperament. Seely said typical hours would be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, and that the business is about 90% daytime daycare with roughly 10% overnight stays. "The most recent daycare week averaged 65–70 dogs in daycare with seven dogs for overnight stays," Seely said, adding that onsite staff levels are normally four to six people.

Director of Planning Hiram Peck told commissioners that the Farmington Valley Health District had approved the proposed waste management plan. "Compliance shall be demonstrated with all standards and requirements of the Farmington Valley Health District as well as the Town Departments of Building, Fire, Engineering, and Planning," Peck said in his staff summary, language the commission included in its approval conditions.

Commissioners asked about emergency evacuation, noise mitigation, outdoor play fencing and veterinary relationships. Seely said Dogtopia franchises maintain laminated evacuation plans posted throughout the facility, practice evacuations weekly with a full drill monthly and keep emergency kits and staff on extended hours during overnight stays. "If a fire alarm goes off during the day all the dogs are taken out of the building," she said. Applicants said an independent interior wall with an air gap would be constructed to limit noise transmission and that outdoor play would be fenced with an 8‑foot fence and separated from vehicle areas by guard rails.

The commission adopted five written conditions: approval of the dog daycare use as represented; a maximum of 90 dogs on site; hours of operation limited to 7 a.m.–7 p.m., seven days per week; 4–6 onsite staff; and approval of an outdoor play area behind the building with a detailed drawing submitted to the Planning Department prior to construction. The approval also requires compliance with the Farmington Valley Health District and relevant Town departments.

The motion to approve App. #5076 was made jointly by Commissioner Clay Stevenson and Chair Lisa Levin, seconded by Commissioner Robin Baran, and carried with votes from Stevenson, Levin, Baran, Vice Chair Peter Mahoney, Commissioners Joseph Gentile, Chris White and Jamie DiPace.

The commission’s decision included standard conditions to return plans for departmental review and to ensure the outdoor play area, if built, is located to the rear of the building away from parked vehicles. The applicants emphasized that most Dogtopia locations do not rely on outdoor play and that outdoor sessions occur only during daytime hours and in short, scheduled intervals.