The Mountain View County municipal planning commission has approved a development permit application for an existing kennel-canine behaviorist business northeast of Sundre. The OK came during the commission's recent regularly scheduled meeting.
Located in the Eagle Hill-Westward Ho community at SW 19-33-3-W5 adjacent to Rge. Rd. 40, the facility is owned by Jaclyn Skorpadck and John and Norma Jean Hagen.
"The applicant mentions that she is a canine behaviorist who develops conversation between human and dog," administration said in a briefing note to the commission.
"There will be a maximum of five dogs associated with the business on the property at any one time and the applicant/landowner is the only employee of the business.
"In addition to the five dogs, the owner's pet dogs live on the property. The business is by appointment only and the clients are not permitted to drive onto the property where the dogs are located unless the applicant permits entry."
The land use bylaw defines a kennel as a "development for the breeding, boarding, caring or training of small animals, normally considered household pets, excluding livestock. Typical facilities include pet boarding and pet training establishments where six or more dogs, being over six months of age, are kept."
In a letter accompanying the development permit application, Jaclyn Skorpack said, "I am a canine behaviorist. My job entails making the conversation between human and dog more clear, with the use of energy and body language. While pups stay with me, I fulfil their body, mind and soul and as a result, dogs do not bark, dig or have anxious tendencies. If a dog happens to let out a single bark, even while playing, I rush towards the pup to immediately put a stop to any noise."
The development permit approval includes a number of conditions, including the following: "Dogs shall not be permitted to run free off the property, the applicant shall comply with the county's Animal Control Bylaw, future expansion of the kennel will require a new development permit, and the hours of operation will be year round from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m."
In other news, the commission has approved a temporary development permit for year-round activities at the Willow Lane Barn, which is used for community events such as corporate functions.
The barn is located in the Netook community northeast of the Town of Olds.
"The applicant is applying to allow for year-round use of the existing event facility," administration said in a briefing note to council. "The facility, which was originally referred to as a wedding barn, received approval in 2014 to allow for one event per week from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. from Friday to Sunday for the months of May to October.
"The applicant has since had numerous requests to allow additional weddings, corporate functions and community events within the event barn, and therefore is requesting to allow for unlimited events annually within the existing facility."
As part of the application process, the applicant circulated a mail out to adjacent landowners within a kilometre of the subject property.
The commission received two letters of concern, with the letter writers mentioning concerns with noise, traffic and garbage.
The applicant provided a letter in response to the concerns outlining plans to address those issues.
Administration recommended approval of the application, saying, in part, that "the event barn and associated business received approvals in 2014 and there have been no additional complaints received by the county since operation began other than those submitted as part of the development permit process" and "the proposed facility complements the existing agricultural operation located on the site."
The approval comes with a number of conditions, including that any future expansion of the business, site area or additional employees will require a new permit.
Another condition states that "the applicant, landowner and operator shall recognize farming practices exist in the surrounding area. The proposed development shall not unduly interfere with neighbouring agricultural practices."
The temporary development permit is for five years.
"My job entails making the conversation between human and dog more clear, with the use of energy and body language."Jaclyn Skorpack
