A proposed ordinance with new regulations for dog kennels and other facilities housing canines was sent back to a subcommittee of the Blairstown Land Use Board after the full board decided it still needed some more work before it goes back to the township committee.
The committee had sent the ordinance to the land use board for it to determine if it was consistent with the township’s master plan.
At an uncharacteristically crowded meeting of the land use board, on March 20, numerous residents voiced concerns that the new rules, particularly any potential changes in zoning laws, would constrict the work and scope of kennels within the township. Others were concerned about the rules applying to other animals, particularly horses.
Land use board attorney Roger Thomas emphasized that an existing use, or “grandfathered” use, is generally exempt from changes in zoning ordinances. They may not be permitted to expand beyond the scope of the existing use at the time zoning rules are changed. What is in place already, can stay.
The updated ordinance will add three definitions of kennels within the township.
The first is “Boarding Kennel,” defined as a facility that provides temporary boarding of dogs and other household animals. Essentially a bed and breakfast for pets. This would also include services such as grooming.
A “Commercial Kennel” would refer to a facility that trains and breeds dogs. Commercial kennels would not be permitted to board non-owned dogs except when the boarding is specifically related to boarding or training.
The third, “Rescue Kennel,” would be a facility in which boarding and keeping of dogs is conducted for humanitarian purposes by legally registered, not-for-profit animal rescue organizations. Such dogs would be expected to be transferred to an animal foster home or permanent home as soon as is practical.
The ordinance also adds animal facilities to the township’s Conditional Uses rules, which would permit the facilities as conditional uses in the HC, highway commercial, and R-5, single family residential, zones. The uses would need to meet a number of criteria including property size, facilities and maintenance.
Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
