Dewey could change code to allow doggy daycare care

Dewey prides itself for being a dog-friendly town, yet there’s no place in town for dogs to be groomed or boarded during the day.

That could soon change if town commissioners agree with a proposal to change town code to make pet day care a permitted use.

Dewey code already allows pet grooming in its Resort Business 2, Resort Business 3 and Planned Resort Business 3 districts, but not pet day care or kenneling. During a meeting April 13, the planning commission voted unanimously in favor of recommending to town commissioners a change to town code that would allow pet daycare as a permitted use in those three districts.

During the planning commission meeting, Jim Caperelli, owner of Jungle Jim’s Total Pet Care, said he is looking to open a dog grooming and day care business in the location currently home to ice cream shop Sugar Monkey. Located in an RB2 district, 1705 Coastal Highway, Caperelli said this is a good location because the wall separating the business to the south is soundproof, there is nothing above it, and the space between it and Jeremiah’s Beach Party to the north is empty.

Caperelli said the doggy daycare industry was the fastest-growing industry in the United States last year. He said he expected continued growth because the pet population is expected to grow by another 20 percent.

“Obviously Dewey is known for being pet friendly, but there’s not one business addressing those needs,” Caperelli said. “Other beach towns have caught on.”

The wording change, which stipulates hours of operation as after 7 a.m. and before 9 p.m., now goes before town council, which expected to take up the issue during its May 12 meeting.

Fred Townsend, town solicitor, explained if council votes in favor of pet day care as a permitted use, Caperilli could get a business license almost immediately. He said if council decides instead to make it a conditional use, Caperilli would have to apply for a conditional use, which would delay the opening because there would have to be a public hearing before the planning commission and then council.

Relaxed bulk standards

The planning commission also began to discuss a possible change to the code regarding relaxed bulk standards.

Sections 185-25 and 185-25.2 of town code indicate bulk standards may be relaxed for tracts of land larger the 80,000 square feet in the Resort Business 1 and Resort Business 3 zoning districts. However, these sections of code do not specify which standards may be relaxed.

The standards are included in sections 185-26.1 and 185-26.2, in the definition of overlay districts, where they are designated as Planned Resort Business 1 and Planned Resort Business 3.

A proposal forwarded to the planning commission by town council would delete reference to relaxed bulk standards in Sections 185-25 and 185-25.2. The planning commission is scheduled to begin detailed discussions on these changes during its next meeting in June.