A day care and overnight lodging facility for dogs won an endorsement from the Quincy Plan Commission Tuesday night for operations at 812 Hampshire.
Shayne Appel, owner of Lucky Dog at 4530 Broadway, said her animal day care business must move by April 1. She plans to rent a single-story property owned by Mark Aleman that abuts an alley on the interior of the block bounded by Eighth and Ninth streets between Hampshire and Maine.
“They’re treated like children,” Appel said. “We even have a big screen TV so they can watch Animal Planet.”
Staff from the Department of Planning and Development had recommended that dogs not be allowed to relieve themselves outdoors. The commission amended that recommendation after Appel told of plans for a 25-by-40 foot area that will be fenced. Solid wastes will be scooped and liquid wastes will go into an area that will be dug out and lined with pebbles.
Norbert Pohlman of the American Legion at 116 North Eighth is concerned about the smell of dog urine or having it flow down the alley after a rain.
“Our back door is about 20 feet from our kitchen, and I have concerns about sanitation,” Pohlman said.
Mike Veihl also voiced concerns about runoff on behalf of his son, Dan Veihl, who operates the Butcher Block on the same block.
“This is not a proper application for the downtown area,” Veihl said.
The commission endorsed the proposal with stipulation that dogs always be attended when outdoors, no more than 21 dogs be on the premises at any time and a 25-by-40-foot area be fenced for walking the dogs.
The Quincy City Council will consider that and other proposals next Monday.
In other action, the commission:
• Endorsed a plan by First Bankers Trust Co. to vacate the alleys that border bank property in the block between 12th Street and 13th Street between Broadway and Spring. A new bank is proposed for the north half of the block and immediately east of the current building.
• Voted to concur with a staff recommendation to allow a vehicle sales lot to the south of Delta Tire.
• Endorsed plans to subdivide a 10-acre tract at 2121 South Eighth for construction of another home. Residents near Hilltop Drive noted concerns about a narrow lane that provides access to the property.
— dwilson@whig.com/221-3372
