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Planning commission approves kennel permit for Dogs at Lionheart, forwards to City Council
Summary
The planning commission voted 6–1 to approve a conditional use permit for Dogs at Lionheart, a commercial kennel at 2170 Joshua Lane, after staff recommended conditions limiting numbers and hours and animal control reported previous compliance issues including 117 dogs on site.
The Suffolk City Planning Commission voted 6–1 to approve a conditional use permit for Dogs at Lionheart, a commercial kennel proposed at 2170 Joshua Lane, and will forward the recommendation to the City Council’s August 19 meeting.
Staff planner Shannon Wolf told commissioners that the 93‑acre property is designated agricultural in Suffolk’s 2045 comprehensive plan and that a commercial kennel fits the existing rural character. "Staff recommends approval of conditional use permit request CUP 202600009 subject to the following conditions," Wolf said, calling attention to limits on animal counts, restricted outdoor exercise hours and recordkeeping and vaccination requirements.
Chief Animal Control Officer Lanier said an onsite inspection in June found 117 dogs and raised concerns about incomplete rabies records. "There were a total of a 117 dogs on the property," Lanier said; she said staff revisited in July and found many issues corrected but that full documentation remained outstanding. Applicant Leslie Benson described Dogs at Lionheart as a 20‑year operation that breeds primarily German Shepherds and donates trained dogs to veterans and first responders. "The dogs of Lionheart started over 20 years ago," Benson said, and she described volunteer trainers and a program for service dogs.
Commissioners focused questions on how the proposed conditions relate to state code and the property’s current animal population. Staff explained the zoning distinction between personal dogs in agricultural districts versus commercial kennel counts and said the CUP conditions would cap the kennel use (including puppies) consistent with the staff recommendation. The motion to approve included the staff conditions discussed during the hearing.
The planning commission’s approval is a recommendation to City Council; staff noted that City Council holds the ultimate authority to grant or revoke a conditional use permit, and that noncompliance with conditions could lead to revocation if complaints persist.
