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Plan commission approves 10‑year permit for pet aftercare and cremation facility at 3614 Security Street
Summary
The Gowland Plan Commission unanimously approved a 10‑year specific‑use permit allowing a pet aftercare and cremation business to adaptively reuse an existing industrial building at 3614 Security Street, with conditions limiting public visitation, requiring nine potted plants, relocation of refuse, rooftop screening and restricted hours.
The Gowland Plan Commission voted unanimously July 13 to approve a specific‑use permit (SUP) allowing a pet aftercare and cremation facility at 3614 Security Street.
Staff described the site as a roughly 0.80‑acre former industrial property in Council District 6 and said the proposed use is classified under the GDC as a mortuary/funeral home use that therefore requires an SUP. Staff recommended a 10‑year SUP with conditions limiting the operation strictly to pet aftercare and cremation, requiring operations entirely within the existing building, and restricting public access.
Applicant representatives from the Dimension Group and Gateway Services told commissioners the business is primarily business‑to‑business, serving veterinary clinics rather than walk‑in retail customers. "Odor has never been a concern, and we do scrub the buildings entirely when we vacate," Gateway representative Misty Search said, describing compliance practices and EPA requirements the company follows. Gateway's operations manager, Michael Dunning, added the facility would function as an extension of veterinarians' services and would not be a public‑facing funeral retail operation.
Commissioners pressed the applicant on parking and site layout. Staff said 20 spaces exist on the site while the code requires 55 for a funeral‑home classification; the applicant intends to pursue an administrative alternative compliance or parking deviation supported by a parking study. The SUP includes a condition calling for nine potted plants along the Security Street frontage, relocation of refuse containers to the rear, rooftop mechanical screening consistent with section 4.46 of the GDC, and hours limited Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed to the general public on weekends, with limited internal weekend work allowed and no more than four employees on site).
Commissioner Duckworth moved approval "as presented with staff's recommendations," Commissioner Jones seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. The approval is subject to the listed conditions and the 10‑year term recommended by staff.
