MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - A commercial dog breeder has withdrawn their approved development application for a new kennel and residence near Cremona and submitted a new application for approval to continue operations on their own property near Carstairs.
The move cancelled an appeal board hearing scheduled for today, Aug. 23, on the original application which was appealed by a dog rescue organization that recently set up shop in Cremona.
Mountain View County’s Subdivision & Development Appeal Board secretary, Christofer Atchison, said the file has been anything but typical.
“I’d say it’s probably a rare case that somebody who has received approval has withdrawn their development permit application,” he said.
Atchison said there was interest in the file from across the province, adding the level of interest was higher than typical as well.
In May, Joy Unleashed Ltd. applied to the county for discretionary use approval to develop an $850,000 commercial kennel with attached residence on 22.59 acres of agricultural-zoned land in the Dogpound area of the county.
Information about the proposed development was circulated to 16 adjacent landowners in early June. No objections were received by the county.
The county’s municipal planning commission considered the application on July 7. Administrative staff recommended approval with conditions. The commission approved the permit that day, along with the conditions. Affected persons had until July 28 to appeal.
When apprised of the development approval the week the appeal period was ending, BARCS Rescue noted its opposition publicly, promoted a change.org website post encouraging people to add their name in opposition, directed feedback to Mountain View County and solicited donations to cover the fee to appeal the decision.
BARCS had just applied for and received development approval from the Village of Cremona on June 21 to open up its first ever facility on Railway Avenue offering various pet services, including dog rescue and grooming and retail space with an eventual plan to open boarding kennels.
Atchison said he was apprised on Aug. 15 that the original conditionally-approved development application had been withdrawn, hence the cancelling of the appeal board hearing.
On Aug. 11, Mountain View County circulated a new application by Greg and Karen Miller for a commercial dog kennel under the name Baby Barks Kennel to neighbouring landowners in the Jackson area of the county.
The development application is for an existing kennel located on their 15.8 acre parcel.
According to the circulation, the applicants specialize in ethical and care-based breeding and adoption of non-shedding Bichon Shih Tzus descended from one single retired breeder – Pooch Palace Kennels – who honed her genetics over a 35-year breeding history.
