6.3. SR 08-17-1998ity of
Item #6.3.
River
MEMORANDUM
Mayor and City Council
FROM:
Stephen Wensman, Planner
DATE:
August 17, 1998
SUBJECT:
Request by Howard and Linda Abel
for a Conditional Use Permit, Public
Hearing Case No. CU 98-19
Request
Consider a request by Howard and Linda Abel for a conditional use permit to
operate a private kennel out of there home.
Location
21031 Elk Lake Road (County Road 1), Elk River, MN.
Section 17, Township 33, Range 26.
Zoning/Land Use
Rla (Single Family Residential) / LR (Low Density Residential)
Attachments
Location map
Site plans
· Letter from applicant
· July 28, 1998 Planning Commission minutes
Overview
The Abels have a purchase agreement to buy the subject property and intend
to kennel their six dogs on the premises, which requires a conditional use
permit in the Rla zone. Howard and Linda Abel have six Boxers which they
raise as show dogs. According to the applicants, the dogs are their pets and
the kennel is to be used for hobby purposes, rather than commercial. The
Abel's occasionally breed there dogs (three times in ten years) and in the
past, the puppies were sold prior to breeding and there has been no need to
advertise their sale.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
Memo to Planning Commission/CU 98-19
July 28, 1998
Page 2
Facilities
The applicant shall be providing 5 indoor (4' x 6') / outdoor (6' x 12') kennels
with a concrete slab behind their detached garage. The dogs will have access
to indoor heated and cooled kennels in the garage. The kennel area is
buffered from the neighbors by roughly 50 feet of natural vegetation and is
about 100 feet from the nearest neighbor (measured off aerial photo). Linda
Abel runs a business out of her home and will be nearby to monitor the dogs.
Kennel Permits
Kennel permits are issued on an annual basis, expiring on December 31st
following the first effective day of the kennel permit. Kennels are open to
inspection by duly authorized City authorities at any reasonable time. A
permit may be revoked by the Council by reason of the violation of City
ordinance, health, nuisance order, laws or regulations.
Planning Commission
At the July 28th Planning Commission public hearing six neighbors voiced
opposition to the private kennel primarily concerned about noise. Planning
Commissioner Mesich stated that private kennels are permitted and the
permits are reviewed yearly prior to reissue and that if there are any
problems the permits can be revoked. Also, Commissioner Mesich spoke to
the community service officer from Crystal and found that their were no
complaints regarding the applicants dogs.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council approve the conditional use permit
for Howard and Linda Abel to operate a private kennel out of there home
with the following conditions:
1. THAT THERE BE NO ON-SITE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES.
2. THAT THE PRIVATE KENNEL BE LIMITED TO SIX DOGS.
3. THAT ANIMAL WASTE BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.
4. THAT THE DOGS BE CONFINED TO THE GARAGE INDOOR KENNEL AREA
IN THE EVENINGS.
5. THATTHE GARAGE BE FULLYINSULATED.
s:\planning\stevewen\ccmmo\cu98-19c.doc
Memo to Planning Commission/CU 98-19
July 28, 1998
Page 3
6. THAT THE APPLICANT RECEIVE A KENNEL PERMIT FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL.
s:\planning\stevewen\ccmmo\cu98-19c.doc
, , ! __
__~ LOCATION
City of
ZONING
· MAP
CASE:
3065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
.N
To:
From:
Subject:
Date:
City of Elk River, Planning Commission
Howard (Skip) and Linda Abel
Information Pertinent to Conditional Use Permit Application
June 28, 1998
We have signed an agreement to purchase the home at 21031 Elk Lake Road ,Elk
River, MN, our tentative closing date is at the end of September, 1998. We are
applying to the city for a "Hobby Kennel" permit. We are not applying for a commercial
type of Boarding Kennel license.
We raise and show high quality Boxers, some of our dogs in the past have been
nationally ranked, all have achieved their AKC Champion titles. We do not breed often,
in the past 10 years we have had only 3 litters, our puppies are usually sold before a
breeding takes place and we have never advertised our puppies for sale in a
newspaper. We are members of the American Boxer Club and the Minnesota Boxer
Club. ! have judged a number of different breeds for various dog clubs' puppy
sweepstakes (a type of practice dog show for young dogs). We travel to dog shows
frequently and take our dogs, consequently there would be no dogs on the property
many weekends during the year.
We are responsible dog owners, our dogs are never left to run. Linda's office is in the
house so she would be at home most of the time to supervise the dogs if necessary.
We propose to pour a concrete slab behind the detached garage as a kennel floor and
construct 5 indoor/outdoor kennel runs, each kennel run would be 6' wide by 12' long.
The kennel runs to be constructed of commercial type of kennel fencing. We will also
put 2 way dog doors into the garage (kennel) with accompanying kennels inside the
building, the inside kennel runs would be approximately 4' wide by 6' long. The
building is heated and we will also install an air conditioning unit, the dogs will usually
spend the night inside the house however.
Between the proposed kennel and the neighboring home there is a natural
screen/barrier of trees, shrubs and bushes. We have never had any problems or
complaints from our present neighbors regarding our dogs, we clean up after them and
ensure that any excessive barking is promptly dealt with.
We presently have 6 dogs, however one will be campaigned on the national show
circuit next year and will be gone for that time.
We thank you for your consideration.
Planning Commission Minutes
July 28, 1998
Page 5
10. OUTLOT A BE CCII~ABINED WLTJ-I THE AD~T PARCEL TO THE SOUTH
5.6. Request by Howard & Linda Abel for Conditional Use Permit for Kennel, Public
Hearing Case No. CU 98-19
Staff report by Steve Wensman, Planner. Howard and Linda Abel have requested
a conditional use permit to operate a private kennel at the home they plan to
purchase at 21031 Elk Lake Road. Steve explained that there is a vegetative
buffer separating the proposed kennel from the adjoining residence and
estimated that the nearest residence is approximately 400 feet from the kennel
site. Staff recommends approval of the request based on the conditions outlined
in the staff report.
Chair Mesich opened the public hearing.
Greg Mills, 21133 Elk Lake Road, stated his bedroom window would be only about
50 feet from the kennels. He expressed his concern that the noise from barking
dogs would be a concern and stated he opposed the request. He indicated he
would have no recourse if problems arose after approval of the permit.
Howard (Skip) Abel, applicant, indicated he and his wife have been showing
boxers for approximately 10 years and have only had 3 litters. He stated he
currently lives in a city and has not had a problem with dogs barking.
Jeff Lamm, 21160 Elk Lake Road, questioned whether or not it would be poor
planning to have a dog kennel abutting the Windsor Woods development. Mr.
Lamm indicated he owns 50 acres across from the subject property.
Mr. Mills stated he was approached by the Abel's realtor and asked how he felt
about dogs, but he was not told they intended to operate a kennel.
Marly Glines questioned what type of kennel Mr. Abel was proposing. Staff
explained that the Abel's were proposing to operate a private kennel, not a
commercial kennel. Mr. Glines indicated he is the owner of the Windsor Woods
development and did not feel it would be appropriate to having barking dogs
next to a development having homes in the $180,000 - $400,000 range.
Mr. Abel, applicant, explained that the kennel would not be operated as a
business. He indicated the dogs would be brought in at night. Mrs. Abel noted
that she works out of her home and would be available to monitor the dogs
during the daytime.
Mr. Miller asked if there were other kennels in the city. Chair Mesich indicated
that there are 3 other licensed kennels. Chair Mesich noted that he contacted
the community service officer in the community where the Abel's currently reside
and was told there have been no complaints regarding their dogs.
Planning Commission Minutes
July 28, 1998
Page 6
COMMISSIONER COTE MOVED THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND
APPOVAL OF THE REQUEST BY HOWARD AND LINDA ABEL FOR A CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT TO OPERATE A PRIVATE KENNEL, PUBLIC HEARING CASE NO. CU 98-19, WITH
THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
2.
3.
4.
THAT THERE BE NO ON-SITE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES
THAT THE PRIVATE KENNEL BE LIMITED TO 6 DOGS
THAT ANIMAL WASTE BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.
THAT THE DOGS BE CONFINED TO THE GARAGE INDOOR KENNEL AREA IN THE
EVENINGS
THAT THE GARAGE BE FULLY INSULATED
THAT THE KENNEL LICENSE BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
There being no other comments from the public, Chair Mesich closed the public
~hearing.
5.8. Re,
etail
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repod by
COMMISSIONER ~J,I/OJPSO THE PLANNIN ISSION REC(
APPROVAL OF..~I:JE REQUEST ;AND COMPA_NfE~FOR AN AMENDMENT PUD
AGREEME]~I~/FOR ELK RIVER/ .t~ CENT. T.E~I~ ALLOW HOTELS AND MO~ AS A
CONDI~NAL USE. CO~ )~O"E SECONDED THE MOTIO~Hi MOTION
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~.?~ OF ~EQUEST BY SAND :~ ~S FO~ELIMINARY ~J (ELK
~I~R_ RET~ E~ER 2N~), PUBLIC HEARIh ~ J~P 98-
C~I' ~ THOMPSON MOVED THE N~ COMMISSION RECOMMEND
~OVAL ~H~ R~U~ST BY SAND CO. S, ~NC. FOR ~ CONDiTiONaL
~RM~T, H~R~NG C~S~ NO. CU ~8.' ON THE FOLLOW~N~
CONDn AS RECOMMENDED B~ STA
1. THE DING SIGN C( JP THE OR
ALI A 20 FOOT HIGH MI SIGN
S WILL REQUIRE SIGN PI
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WIDTH OF 15 FEET. ALL