HomeMy WebLinkAboutRequest for Council Action REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Date: February 9, 2006
Item No.:
Department Approval: Administrator Approval: Agenda Section:
Name: Michael P. Gaffron Zoning
Title: Planning Director
Item Description: Dog House Kennel, 3505 Wayzata Boulevard-Relocation Options
List of Exhibits
A- Letter from Brian Fulmer
Staff met with Brian Fulmer at his request on Monday February 6. Mr. Fulmer operates the
Dog House Kennel at 3505 Wayzata Boulevard, and lives in his residence next door at
3507 Wayzata Boulevard. MnDOT is acquiring the property, and Fulmer is vacating the
premises as of Friday February 10.
The property is zoned RR-1B, Single Family Rural Residential District. The RR-1B
District does not allow as either a permitted, conditional or accessory use, a commercial
kennel operation such as that which exists on the site. The existing operation is considered
as a legal nonconforming use, operating under a Conditional Use Permit granted in 1984
(Resolution No. 1654) which allows continued use of the boarding kennel operation as a
non-conforming use at this location.
Relocation of the kennel operation to a new location in Orono is not a simple matter under
the current ordinances. The only zoning district in Orono that currently allows a boarding
kennel operation is the B-5 Limited Neighborhood Business District in Navarre, where
"Kennels" are allowed by conditional use permit.
Staff has discussed with the City Attorney what methods might or might not be appropriate
for allowing the relocation. Simply adding `Kennels' as an allowed Conditional Use in one
of our RR- districts could open up this use to areas where it would be inappropriate.
Kennels are a `prohibited' use under Orono's Home Occupation licensing code. Some sort
of business license might be an option.
Brian is looking at two potential locations: 875 Wayzata Blvd (the New Horizons Daycare
site next to the Luce Line) and the Eisinger property (former landfill site at 3245 Wayzata
Blvd.)just east of the current Dog House location. Each site has plusses and minuses, and
staff has suggested that Brian discuss these options with Council. Please see his attached
letter.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED
Review the options for relocation with Mr. Fulmer and the potential methods for
accomplishing this,with the City Attorney.
D.Brian Fulmer,President
The Dog House Boarding Kennels,Inc.
Temporary Mailing address:
P. O.Box 360
Long Lake,MN 55356
February 10,2006
City of Orono
2750 Kelley Parkway
Orono,MN 55356
Dear Orono Council Members,
After being located at the curve of Highway 12 and Stubbs Bay Road for more than 28
years,our time has come to leave this site to make way for MNDOT's Highway 12
expressway.
We are asking your help in continuing to make Orono our home and providing our pet
boarding services to this community.
In order to address this situation,our request is twofold. First,we would like the city to
transfer our business license from our current location of 3505 West Wayzata Blvd to 875
West Wayzata Blvd effective as soon as possible. We have arranged a 19-month real
estate lease of this site that begins immediately. This site,formerly the New Horizon day
care facility,would provide an interim home and would allow us to provide nearly
uninterrupted service for our clients.
Next,we would ask the city for the approvals necessary to establish permanently our
business location at one of two Orono locations,either 3245 West Wayzata Blvd,the
property just East of our present location or the leased site at 875 West Wayzata Blvd.
We are in purchase discussions with the owners of both parcels.
At the 3245 West Wayzata Blvd site, we have already done a significant amount of
preparatory work. Both Phase 1 and Phase 2 environmental testing has been done and the
results submitted to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. They reviewed it and we are
aware of the limited uses allowed on the fill area.
2
We have worked with the City staff to choose sites within the city that would seem most
appropriate for our use. As well, we have stopped pursuing sites that the staff deemed
less desirable.
The two chosen sites seem well suited to our needs; allowing us to have a residence and
boarding facilities on one site, as is our present situation. Both sites have good physical
separation from adjoining properties, as well as good road access. Our goal throughout
the search has been to avoid sites that would create controversy.
As a charter member of the American Boarding Kennels Association and Minnesota's
first Certified Kennel Operator,I've had the opportunity to know of and visit many"state
of the art"boarding facilities throughout the United States. As we now move to a new
location, we look forward to creating a wonderful pet resort here in the Orono
community.
Thank you so much for your consideration and as timely a decision as the process and
schedules will allow.
Sincerely,
D. Brian Fulmer