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Commission approves conditional-use permit allowing eight working hounds at S. Canyon Street home
Summary
After a lengthy public hearing with multiple neighbors testifying both for and against, the commission approved a conditional-use permit for Christina and Mark McMullen to keep eight hound dogs for conservation work, subject to conditions and with an appeal period before the CUP becomes effective.
The Nampa Planning & Zoning Commission approved a conditional-use permit allowing Christina and Mark McMullen to keep eight hound dogs at their residence at 204 South Canyon Street for noncommercial conservation work.
Christina McMullen told the commission the hounds are "extremely well behaved, highly trained" and that the family keeps the dogs kenneled indoors in a converted, soundproof garage, uses bark collars as needed and maintains daily sanitation routines. Mark McMullen and other applicants emphasized the dogs are used for wildlife-management work, not commercial breeding.
Staff associate planner Terry Friend reviewed the CUP criteria and told the commission a CUP can be revoked if complaints are material and not remedied. Friend noted code requires a kennel license if a household has more than two dogs and that the conditional-use process lets staff and commissioners address mitigation. He also summarized correspondence: several near neighbors provided favorable comments and staff found recent animal-control reports but no code violations as of the hearing.
Neighbors and nearby residents were split. Multiple neighbors testified in support, describing the McMullins as diligent owners who keep the property neat and the dogs supervised; Kelly Cost said she lived next door for three years and "not once did those dogs ever try to come through the fence." Other residents reported past episodes of prolonged howling and said nuisance impacts had occurred; one witness said she had heard dogs howl for up to four hours on an occasion.
Applicants acknowledged they initially misreported the number of dogs to responding officers out of fear the animals would be taken, but said follow-up contacts with police and video provided to staff showed normal dog behavior and inconclusive enforcement outcomes. Terry Friend noted the existence of recent calls but said code compliance had not documented violations and that the applicant had provided video and documentation.
Following deliberation on nuisance risk and enforcement pathways, Commissioner Kirkman moved and Commissioner Daffer seconded approval of the CUP as presented; the commission approved the request by roll call (Garner, Kehoe, Daffer, Morgan, Copeland, Kirkman, Turner, Feene — all yes; Miller absent). Chair read the post-decision guidance: the CUP becomes effective 15 calendar days after written decision unless an appeal is filed.
