Decision on dog kennel at Tucker and Peake roads deferred to October

The zoning board deferred a decision Monday on an application for an animal boarding facility, citing concerns about noise and the type of structure that would be built.

The applicant, Larry Hulsey, is seeking a conditional-use permit from the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission to allow a dog kennel on nearly 6 acres at 1409 Tucker Road near the intersection with Peake Road.

Hulsey wants to build a one-story, 2,868-square-foot metal building with soundproofing materials. The sides and rear of the building would be enclosed by a fenced dog run area. An existing house on the property would be demolished.

The business would offer extended boarding and optional grooming for boarded animals. Grooming would not be available to the general public, Hulsey said.

The hours of operation would be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Some pickups would be allowed on weekends.

“I am concerned about the barking,” commission Chairman Kamal Azar said. “If I lived right there ... I would be concerned with dogs barking day and night.”

Hulsey said the dogs would not be allowed outside at night.

“At nighttime they are going to sleep,” he said.

But Azar said Hulsey couldn’t make that claim.

“It’s not your dog, so I don’t know how you can tell me they are going to sleep,” he said.

Also, Azar said he was concerned about the metal building and would like to see it finished on all sides.

Bill James, who owns two rental houses near the proposed kennel, said he has had plans to build more houses closer to the proposed kennel and would be concerned about the noise.

“That’s something you can’t control all the time,” he said.

The commission voted 3-0 to defer the matter until the Oct. 12 meeting. Commissioners Jeane Easom and Bryan Scott were absent.

Other items on the agenda were:

CONDITIONAL USES:

8561 Columbus Road: Conditional use to allow a deer processing facility, A-Agricultural District. Jason Thomley, Paul Harkness, applicants. Approved.

1870 Pio Nono Ave.: Conditional use to allow a charter school with a multipurpose room and kitchen addition, R-2 District. Rowland Engineering Inc., applicant. Approved.

2924 Vineville Ave.: Conditional use to allow a professional office, HR-3 District. Angela Reid, applicant. Approved.

1127 Kitchens St.: Conditional use to allow expansion of a church with additional classrooms, nurseries, gymnasium and offices, R-2 District. Stafford Builders & Consultants, applicant. Approved.

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS:

1035 Oglethorpe St.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow design approval of exterior modifications to a building, HPD-BH District. Susan Knight, applicant. Approved.

VARIANCES:

1127 Kitchens St.: Variance in setback and parking requirements for a church, R-2 District. Stafford Builders & Consultants, applicant. Approved.

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223 or follow her on Twitternote>