Mountain View County council has approved a number of changes to the land use bylaw, including as it related to commercial dog kennels. The move was made during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The amendments include replacing the definition of kennel-personal with kennel-commercial in the bylaw.
Kennel commercial is defined as “a development for the breeding, boarding, caring or training of small animals, normally considered household pets, excluding livestock. Typical facilities include but are not limited to pet boarding and pet training.”
Kennel, commercial is a discretionary use within agricultural districts, country residential districts, residential farmstead district, local commercial district, industrial business park district, health industrial district, and airport district.
“The development of a kennel may not be permitted within or adjacent to a multi-parcel residential subdivision or closer than 400 metres from the boundary of a multi-parcel residential subdivision. Exceptions may be made by the approving authority when a physical or topographical feature serving as a natural buffer or a highway bisects the minimum separation distance.”
Existing kennels within the 400-metre distance are permitted to continue operating, if OK’d by the approving authority, but will not be permitted to expand.
No exterior exercise area use to accommodate dogs is permitted within 90 metres of any dwelling on an adjacent parcel, and all exterior exercise areas (runs) must be enclosed with a fence acceptable to the approving authority.
“The approving authority shall require the applicant of an application for a kennel to undertake community consultation prior to submission of the development permit application. Written confirmation of community consultation shall be submitted with submission of the development permit application.”
As well, the applicant must submit a waste management plan detailing the control, management and disposal of animal waste associated with the operation.
Amendments to the animal control bylaw were also approved.
The amendments include that “temporary housing of livestock for seasonal agricultural activities such as calving, gathering and sorting may be allowed with a permit within other districts (other that agricultural district) and the maximum allowable density of animals will be calculated in accordance with the length of time the animals are on the lands.”
