BIGHORN – Your favourite furry friends can still go to the Tree Tops Pet Resort.
The development permit for the commercial kennel renewal came before Bighorn council on Oct. 13 with some suggested amendments.
"Administration has drafted two new clauses that they could consider added to first suggestions," Bighorn development officer Janice Thompson said during the virtual meeting.
A virtual public hearing was held in September to gather input from adjacent neighbours and area residents regarding the renewal. Council heard feedback on what to include in the approval, such as not unduly interfering with the amenities of the neighbourhood, clarifying that dog waste was picked up and disposed of appropriately on public lands, adding a condition for traffic management such as signage, and that barking dog noise be managed by operators.
The development permit had already outlined only household pets such as cats and dogs can be housed, a maximum of 60 animals in the kennels, to keep dogs indoors from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m., all animal waste be disposed of in a manner deemed acceptable to Alberta Health Services and the municipal district, and to not build or house additional animals in the enclosure/office/reception building without written approval from the MD.
Thompson said two clauses were added.
The document presented to council outlining the changes included that the operators shall endeavour to manage the kennel operation, so that as much as possible the development does not unduly interfere with the amenities of the neighbourhood or materially interfere with the amenities of the neighbourhood or materially interfere with or affect the use, enjoyment or value of neighbouring parcels of land, and that if dogs are exercised off the subject property, the operator shall ensure that employees are diligent in picking up dog waste and disposing of it at approved facilities.
"The remaining two suggestions are not being recommended as signage is a municipal responsibility ... and the noise has already been dealt with in existing recommendations," Thompson said.
In the decision report presented to council, administration wrote that "a nearby resident does not think it should be their responsibility to manage the applicants barking dog noise by calling the operators when barking is excessive. It was felt the applicants should be responsible for managing their own noise, if it becomes excessive, and not rely on neighbours to report the disruption."
Administration said placing a condition relating to private conversations between neighbours was "not appropriate."
"I think Tree Tops has done really good at responding to resident's concerns [and] I heard residents speak to the approval of the permit – I don't think there is any big concerns [with the renewal]," Councillor Paul Clark said during the meeting.
Councillor Lisa Rosvold thanked administration for its hard work.
"I wanted to add a thank you for considering what we heard in the public hearing and am glad to see the recommendations as part of the permit," Rosvold said.
Tree Tops Pet Resorts is family-owned and was established in 1989. The pet boarding wilderness resort is located just north of Ghost Lake.
Council unanimously approved the development permit with the new clauses.
