Woolwich council has been as fickle as a dog picking out just the right tree, but it appears a Maryhill-area man may finally be able to go ahead with building a kennel.
Councillors have been vacillating for months over Robert Varga’s bid to operate a 50-dog boarding kennel at 1183 Bietz Rd. Again this week, they were all over the map before finally giving clearance for the desired number of dogs and toning down on the request for noise studies.
Noise issues were the largest stumbling block in the previous discussions, with Varga convincing councillors the site is well-removed from neighbouring properties, with the surrounding forest and a hill acting as a buffer between the location and nearby Maryhill. Likewise, there’s a berm between his property and the neighbouring Bridgeport Rod & Gun Club, itself a source of noise. As well, there’s another kennel close by and a well-used baseball diamond that generates more noise than anything else in the area, he said.
Although bylaw staff recommended the township turn down Varga’s request, council sided with the applicant. Staff’s latest attempt to stifle the plan called for a graduated licensing scheme starting with 25 dogs. The report also recommended a noise impact analysis before licensing and another study at a later date.
For Coun. Allan Poffenroth, the noise studies, estimated at $5,000 to $10,000 each, seemed like an excessive requirement.
“I’m really not worried about the noise,” added Coun. Julie-Anne Herteis, noting Varga has “done his homework.”
While Coun. Mark Bauman favoured more noise studies in order to mitigate future complaints and starting with 25 dogs, his colleagues sided with the applicant’s request.
Varga argued the entire business model is based on 50 dogs, with the sizeable investment needed to build the facility contingent on those revenues. Many of the costs, including tens of thousands of dollars in government fees and permits, would be fixed regardless of the size, with building for the 50 dogs maximizing the economies of scale.
He and his wife aren’t fans of barking dogs, and they’ll be living right there, so it’s in their interest to keep it quiet, he added.
His plans call for the kennel building itself to be constructed with twice the required insulation levels, bringing them up to residential standards, so noise from inside the facility would not carry very far.
As it stands, the neighbours aren’t up in arms over the proposal, said Varga.
Woolwich clerk Christine Broughton said the township has received one written letter of concern and three phone calls related to the kennel application. None of those people turned up at council meetings give voice to their concerns.
