2001-47 GRANTING SPECIAL PERMIT - ANIMAL SHELTER - 2100 BLOCK EAST MOUND ROAD

Home Browse Search

same opportunities to impose conditions. The City has no jurisdiction over the road as it is in the township but the Special Use will not be approved unless the road is properly improved. Mr. John Donovan from Macon County Planning as well as John Snyder, Macon County Board Chairman, were present. Mr. Donovan stated that funds are to be raised and allocated if the Special Use is approved. Then the road will be improved to City standards. Mr. Shampine questioned if the facility will be open 24 hours a day. Mr. Donovan stated that the facility will not be staffed for 24 hours a day. Should animal control be called out to pick up a wild animal they will be able to gain access and drop the animal off at the facility. Mr. Donovan stated that the 18,000 square feet is ambitious to begin with although the facility is state of the art and something for the community to be proud of. It is feasible to provide access on Carolyn Avenue and there will be no access from the prison. It is not economically feasible to build a bridge across the stream. The prison officials have said there would not be any opposition if activities remain east of the stream. Mr. Bob Causey, President of the Animal Shelter Foundation, was present and spoke for the petition stating that the facility was very carefully designed and will be a benefit for the community. Mr. Rob Owen, member of the Foundation Board, was present and stated that there is a great need for this new facility and the present one is completely unacceptable. He stated that this was the very best option after all options were considered. There were objectors present: Ms. Mary Wikoff, 2500 Carolyn, was present and spoke against the petition stating that her statements are based on information the area residents were given at a meeting on March 1. A petition of objection was submitted. Ms. Wikoff stated they were told no other sites were considered and this would be the location of the facility as the County owned the land. She stated that the residents appreciate living on a dead end road and already have to put up with the lighting from the prison. Other concerns including traffic, residential access to a commercial use, and widening of the road will destroy trees and other things. She stated an alternative as selling the land for residential use and using the money to build on another site. Ms. Wikoff stated that the children play on Carolyn Avenue as it is a dead end road. Ms. Kathy Minott, 2160 North Greenswitch Road, was present and spoke against the petition. She read a letter of objection written on behalf of her mother, Jennie Gronkowski, who lives at 2665 Carolyn. Ms. Sue Mason, 950 Lake Ridge, was present and spoke against the petition. She stated that her mother lives on Greenswitch and is against the widening of the road.