Commission denies SPCA

Vote a recommendation to board, but project leader, supporters forge ahead

STAFFORD — At a June 17 meeting the Stafford County Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of a conditional-use permit for a proposed animal shelter.

William Hoyt purchased the old Brooke Nursing Center off Andrew Chapel Road last year with the purpose of running a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). He hoped to have the facility up and running by year’s end.

But the proposed project has been met with obstacles all along the way beginning with a denial of a by-right use permit last fall.

However the county opted to act as applicant on the project and has moved forward to garner a conditional-use permit (CUP) for the project on Hoyt’s behalf. If approved the permit would allow development of the animal shelter on the 10.2-acre property.

Hoyt first had to meet the requirements set forth for the application and get the blessing of the planning commission. But following a lengthy public meeting in April, at which both supporters and detractors voiced their positions, the commission decided to table the matter.

The action was originally to be decided Jun. 3 but the commission delayed action until its second monthly meeting.

When the votes were counted last week, the board voted 4-2 to recommend denial of the permit. Commissioners Mike Rhodes and Ken Mitchell cast the dissenting votes.

But the planning commission can only recommend. It cannot deny a permit; the matter will again come before residents at a public meeting at the Aug. 28 board of supervisors’ meeting.

At the June 17 meeting Rhodes had expressed the hope that some compromise could be reached on the project.

Reached by e-mail and phone on Tuesday, he said, “The concept presented was quite broad in scope, and potential impact.”

He indicated that although it was an impressive project, “I'm sure it is intimidating to those in the area.”

With the consideration that the full project would not be realized for some time, if ever, due to the variables, he said, “I think the best way to proceed is to focus the CUP request on the core mission of the operation and limit it to renovation of the existing structure and the construction of one of the two proposed kennels, along with a storage/wash area.”

Rhodes feels this would minimize the impact to the area and would not be inconsistent with the agricultural zoning of the land.

Original site plans called for a kennel, a crematorium, an aviary, a wildlife rehabilitation center, and provisions for caring for large animals. The plan calls for development in several phases.

At previous meetings Hoyt indicated that he would possibly be open to reconsideration of some of the aspects of the original plan.

In an e-mailed statement from Hoyt, he indicated that although disappointing, the planning commission’s action was not unexpected.

He will be forging forward with his plans for the proposed SPCA and will be working on additional kennel design, operational research and focusing on building the SPCA as an organization.

“We are also getting our feet wet with actual rescue and fostering,” he said.

“Our biggest priorities are developing our committees, building a board of directors, and beginning the fundraising process for the organization,” said Hoyt.

But he is also staying focused on the next step in the permit process and the next round of public hearings before the Stafford County Board of Supervisors.

Marty van Duyne is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America and a contributing writer for the Stafford County Sun.