HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Use Permit to allow additional outdoor kennels at 2811 Hyatt Circle (Ames Pet Resort)CITY OF AMES, IOWA
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DEC 1 3 2017
CITY CLERK
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF RANDY DUNCAN, AMES PET CASE NO. 17-20
RESORT, FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT,
§29.1503 OF THE AMES MUNICIPAL GEOCODE.NO. 10-07-325-050
CODE, TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL
OUTDOOR KENNELS AT AMES PET DECISION & ORDER
RESORT ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED
AT 2811 HYATT CIRCLE
FACTS
Applicant Randy Duncan of Ames Pet Resort is requesting a Special Use Permit to allow
additional outdoor kennels at Ames Pet Resort on the property located at 2811 Hyatt Circle. The
ZBA approved a Special Use Permit and a site plan for Ames Pet Resort on August 24, 2011.
The Board subsequently approved a revised building elevation on December 7, 2011. The owner
now seeks to enlarge the use with expanded outdoor fenced dog runs on the north and south ends
of the building. The Ames Municipal Code does not allow retail businesses over 3,000 square
feet gross floor area to locate in a GI zone unless the Zoning Board of Adjustment reviews and
approves a Special Use Permit application. The proposed enlargement is an amendment to the
previous approval.
Ames Pet Resort is a boarding kennel with a capacity of about 60 pets (57 dog kennels and 4 cat
kennels), and average occupancy is about 50 percent. The business has been in operation for
approximately five years and is now seeking to provide an improved environment for boarded
animals. The intended exterior dog run areas do not increase boarding capacity. They are
intended to provide an improved outdoor experience for the clients. One proposed dog run area is
on the south side of the existing building. It is a covered, fenced area that will displace several
parking spaces. The other improvement will be a covered dog run within the existing fenced play
area on the north side of the building. The new areas will consist of a wood privacy fence and
roofed structure with metal roofing to match the existing building. Although some parking is
being removed to accommodate the south dog run, the site has more parking than required and
will still meet requirements.
City Planner Charlie Kuester reviewed the site plan, project description, applicable law, and
Findings of Fact and Conclusions. The applicant has identified noise and odor as the only
potential impacts of the proposed retail business, and has addressed those potential impacts by
having an attendant with the dogs during outdoor time and by maintaining high standards of
cleanliness. There have been no nuisance reports about this business, and no complaints of noise
or odor have been received by Ames Animal Control.
The plan does not meet the current landscape standards as the site was developed using the
previous requirements. The standards are to remove the nonconformities as practicable.
Although this is considered a new site plan as an amendment to the original Special Use Permit,
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there are no changes to the front yard or parking configuration of the site that would include
practical changes at this time related to location and scope of the proposed work. Staff noted that
there are several missing plants from what was approved, and the owner has provided financial
security and will install them prior to May 1, 2018,
Justin Dodge of Hunziker Companies indicated that the kennels on the north side are in the
public utility easement, so they will be shifted to the west side and additional kennels will be
added on the south side of the building.
Applicant Randy Duncan testified that the business is open from 7:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m. Monday
through Friday and 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. on weekends. At least one employee is present from
6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. The dogs go outside four times per day. Mr. Duncan stated that the
request will create a better environment for the dogs and provide better customer service. It will
also reduce the noise in the interior of the building. He believes this will lessen the probability of
nuisance issues since the dogs tend to bark less when they are outdoors.
DECISION The Board considered the facts as detailed above and provided in the staff report,
and found that all of the relevant standards in Section 29.1503 were met and established by the
Applicant.
ORDER
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is GRANTED, pursuant to Ames
Municipal Code Section 29.1503 of the Ames Municipal Code, a Special Use Permit to allow
additional outdoor kennels at Ames Pet Resort on the property located at 2811 Hyatt Circle
Any person desiring to appeal this decision to a court of record may do so within 30 days after
the filing of this decision.
Done this Bch day of November, 2017.
W-Lityl:
Heidi Petersen
Secretary to the Board