By JACKIE TAYLOR | March 22, 2023

Besides hearing from Heartland REC concerning the construction of a solar field and voting to not allow wind turbines in Linn County, see separate stories in this week’s Linn County News, the P&Z Commission heard from Mike Barrett concerning a boarding kennel at his residence in Sugar Valley Lakes.

Linn County Planning & Zoning Director Darin Wilson introduced the conditional use permit, (CUP 23-02) for Barrett who asked to board six dogs.

Barrett addressed the board and said the kennel was more like a bed and breakfast for dogs and was not a traditional kennel. “We don’t want dogs in kennels full-time,” he said.

He explained his backyard is fenced, there is not a large volume of dogs being boarded and dogs are leashed.

Following several questions for Barrett from the commission and the audience asking questions, Barrett learned that if he keeps his dog count at four or less, there was no need for a CUP.

He said he was perfectly happy with four dogs, plus his own personal dogs, and the commission ended the discussion.

They said they may inspect Barrett’s location from time to time to make sure he stayed at the four dog level, which Barrett said was fine. The CUP was closed as it became a moot point with the law