Council Allows Kennels in Commerce Park

City Council cleared the way for Pet Lodge USA to set up shop in a former fur vault at last night’s meeting.

The overnight pet care facility’s owner asked Council to allow him to set up shop in a Commerce Park zoning district that did not allow pet care facilities.

Dan Kryzanowski, owner of Pet Lodge USA,  that the building is perfect for his headquarters and training facility, and he wants to sign a 10-year lease.

“I don’t know why we would find it offensive in that building on that property to have a doggie daycare facility, which is becoming an upscale use for a lot of areas.”

- Councilman Brian Linick

Council was already considering changing the zoning classification that covers most of Commerce Park to allow more kinds of businesses, including salons, dry cleaning, tailoring, and business services like consulting, property and equipment maintenance and financial services.

Monday Council voted 5-2 to add overnight pet care facilities to the list of new businesses allowed conditionally in Commerce Park.

Councilmen Mark Wachter and Fred Goodman, who have voiced opposition to the proposal at previous meetings, voted against, saying that they do not support adding this use at the last and that they do not believe it is the kind of business the city is looking to add in its effort to redevelop Commerce Park.

Other councilmen had a different view. “We’re looking at Commerce Park, and we just built a service garage in the middle of it,” said Linick. “I don’t know why we would find it offensive in that building on that property to have a doggie daycare facility, which is becoming an upscale use for a lot of areas.”

Do you think Pet Lodge USA is a good fit in Commerce Park? Tell us in the comments.

The added conditional use includes several restrictions, including limits on the number of pet care units allowed, the amount of parking required, that no noise should be heard outside of the property boundaries and requirements for waste disposal.

Because it is a conditional use – and not a permitted use – businesses, including Pet Lodge USA, are required to apply to the city on a case-by-case basis.

If Council had determined that the kennel was a “similar and harmonious” use, other kennels could move in more easily.

The new zoning will take effect in 30 days.