Mayor Popove wonders if Sardis dog breeding kennel used a loophole in city’s temporary use permitting

In a staff report prepared by Jennifer Hahn, acting corporate officer for the City of Chilliwack, the matter has already been to a public information meeting. Staff did not allude to any complaints from neighbours in the staff report.

Mayor Popove wondered if the expiration of this temporary use permit was intentional.

“I had a question to staff, too,” Mayor Popove said. “The first temporary use permit expired, and now they’re applying for a new one, which allows them to get a further three years. They’re signing up for a six-year stretch possibly if things go well. It almost seems like a loophole that they, you know, let it expire. Is this something that’s happened before in the past?”

Gillian Villeneuve, director of planning for the City of Chilliwack, advised Mayor Popove that the first temporary use permit for this kennel was issued for three years, but the applicant missed the time frame in order to renew it. As a result, the temporary use permit before them was actually a new permit application. She acknowledged during her remarks that community engagement was completed by the applicant with no concerns raised.

“Typically the applicant would request a renewal; that would come back to council for up to an additional three years,” Villeneuve said. “Unfortunately, the applicant missed the time frame in order to do that, and so they actually have to restart the whole application process again. So, this is a new temporary use permit application. It will be valid for three years if council approves it with an option for council to renew for an additional three years, so six years total again.”

Image: Google Maps / This is the location of a commercial dog breeding kennel in Sardis that was approved by council at its meeting Tuesday (Jan. 10) on a three-year temporary use permit, which followed a previous three-year temporary use permit already used by the applicant.

Councillor Bud Mercer said he initially disliked the application when it came before council years ago.

“I recall this application three years ago,” Councillor Mercer said. “I thought it was a terrible idea. I’m shocked that there’s no complaints, and the neighbours are all for it. From my perspective, congratulations to the business owner. They’re doing something right.”

Council members wound up approving the permit as presented. City staff support the requested use as proposed by the applicant and recommend approval of the draft temporary use permit subject to the following conditions:

* permits the operation of a small-scale commercial dog breeding business

* maximum of three (3) female adult dogs for a maximum 6-week period and three (3) adult dog males for a maximum 1-night period at any time, excluding puppies

* Customers and guardian families may visit from Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Friday within the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday within the hours of 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

* provide adequate parking on-site for both residents and visitors

* provide continuous 1.8-metre tall perimeter fencing for animal enclosure

* a Business License is required

* keeping of pets on-site must be in compliance with the applicable Animal Control Bylaw

* applicant accepts responsibility for the dogs on the subject property

* contravention of the applicable Animal Control Bylaw will result in the Temporary Use Permit forwarded to Council for reconsideration

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Mayor Popove wonders if Sardis dog breeding kennel used a loophole in city’s temporary use permitting

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