Description
Poochie's Pampered Pups is zoned for a permitted use of grooming. However, they operate primarily as a dog day care and have dogs outside and cage free off and on between the hours of 7am to 6pm. The location is abutting and adjacent to residential homes and creates noise issues for the neighborhood due to many dogs barking early mornings and throughout the day (even when employees attempt to supervise, the dogs continue to bark, and we then hear employee screams and dogs barking). The grooming use would not involve leaving dogs outside to play and bark all day long. Additionally, the daycare service are provided with or without the grooming service. Therefore, many dog owners are leaving dogs solely for the purpose of free range daycare and not grooming. This is not a vet clinic, therefore, no exception for pet resorts/boarding applies. Ideally, the company would be confined to solely offering grooming services, as approved, which would not involve dogs being dropped off to play and bark outside.
**We have submitted this issue before and were advice to contact law enforcement as the appropriate department; however, law enforcement has advised us this is not within their scope and this is solely a zoning/use issue. Law enforcement further advised that a noise ordinance claim is an immediate short term fix but not the appropriate solution for an ongoing business use disturbance. This is a use issue, given the company is operating outside of the approved "grooming" use category. The neighbors surrounding would be very pleased if we could at least accomplish the business being required to keep the dogs inside, except when dogs are briefly taken outside to relieve themselves (like all other grooming businesses), rather than allow them to play and bark outside, off and on, all day long (as a day care and not a grooming business).
also asked...
A. Illegal Business
5 Comments
SCF Administrator (Registered User)
Acknowledged Sarasota County Contact Center (Verified Official)
anonymous (Registered User)
Per the Sarasota County Zoning Ordinance this dog day care use is considered Animal Boarding, which is not a permitted use for Poochie's Pampered Pups - see below the definition from the code, specifically mentioning day care for pets.
ANIMAL BOARDING. The use of land for the purpose of boarding, selling, training or breeding cats or dogs for compensation, or the keeping of more than 12 dogs or cats in combination for any purpose. This term shall not include a licensed animal hospital. This term shall, however, include a Pet Resort which, is a facility offering specialized services such as day care for pets, in addition to grooming, lodging and training, including daily or overnight stays.
anonymous (Registered User)
Poochie’s Pampered Pups is zoned CG. In the Agricultural Category, Animal Boarding is not permitted (which includes pet day care in its definition). Under the Retail Sales and Service Category, dog GROOMING (only) is permitted. In the same Retail Sales and Service Category, a Pet Resort is only allowed via a special exception as provided below:
Section 5.3.4 of Code:
Animal Hospital or Veterinary Clinic. Animal hospitals or veterinary clinics may provide indoor animal boarding in accordance with the use table in Section 5.1. Outdoor animal boarding shall be subject to the requirements of Section 5.3.1.b. In the RE Districts an animal hospital or veterinary clinic is allowed only on those parcels converted from OUE-2 to RE-1. A Pet Resort shall meet the following requirements:
1. Special Exception in the CG District. A Pet Resort may be allowed in the CG district, provided that such pet resort receives approval as a Special Exception in accordance with Section 3.1.16 and the use meets the following minimum standards:
i. A Pet Resort shall only be established on a parcel with a minimum parcel size of 1.5 acres and have frontage on an arterial street.
ii. Any building where a Pet Resort is established shall be constructed with masonry or concrete exterior walls.
iii. All perimeter boundaries other than the front street yard shall be screened by a 6-foot high wall, and any open runs shall be screened such that the runs are not visible from adjacent properties or public right-of-way.
iv. No dogs shall be permitted in open run areas between the hours of 8:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
v. Any need for parking generated by the conduct of the Pet Resort business shall be met off-street and not in a required street yard.
vi. No buildings for the housing of animals or open runs for dogs shall be located closer than eight feet from any commercially zoned property and no closer than 100 feet of any pre-existing residential structure zoned residentially.
To my understanding, Poochie’s Pampered Pups does not have a special exception approval to operate as a Pet Resort (which also seems to be a sub-category only available to an animal hospital or vet clinic, which they are not) and would not be able to receive one because the outdoor dog play area is less than 100 feet from residential zoning.
Closed Sarasota Contact Center (Registered User)