Council refuse retention permission for Manor dog kennels

Retention permission has been refused for dog boarding kennels at a business operating in the Manorcunningham area.

Jan and Barbara Rychlewska had sought retention permission for works at Galdonagh, Manorcunningham to include boarding kennels, and a detached domestic garage.

The application, which covered at least 15 kennel holding units, was the subject of an objection by neighbours, who successfully argued that the business, Fluffy Paws Pets Hotel, has been operating “on a large scale” and that the proposed development was not in keeping with the area.

An objection to the application, signed by six neighbours, was submitted to Donegal County Council.

Objectors told the Council that the application “seeks to retain a commercial development which is ongoing and has caused the neighbouring properties a large amount of stress and problems heretofore, through noise, loss of sleep, increased traffic in the area and dangers associated with a large amount of strange dogs being kept in an adjacent property”.

The objectors said the noise “is simply unbearable” and told the local authority that the facility “does not have adequate outdoor space to provide dog runs or outdoor space for the many dogs using the facility”.

They added that the scale of the development, to provide at least 15 kennel holding units, “is much too large for this small site” and contest that the structures at the site are subject to an enforcement

They say that if their children were outside playing, the dogs “constantly bark and frighten the kids” and fear that if “one or a number dogs” got free they could attack the kids.

Following receipt of the objection, a Donegal County Council planner visited the site of the proposed development and noted two dogs were in one kennel.

“Therefore, potentially the development could accommodate up to 30 dogs at any given time,” the planner wrote.

The planner's report also referenced that the noise generated could have the potential to cause “significant disturbance” and said there were serious concerns with the proposal to dispose of potentially high volumes of dog faeces and urine.

In its decision to refuse retention permission for the dog kennels, Donegal County Council said the proposal “would constitute an unacceptable intensification of the current residential use on site”.

It says the amenities of properties in the vicinity would be injured by reason of noise and general disturbance and the adverse intensification of the immediate adjoining road would endanger public safety.

The Council said it was concerned, in the absence of any technical information, that the site may be unable to cater for the safe and effective treatment and disposal of waste.

The Council also highlighted concerns over “dangerous traffic cross-over movements into and out of the site” and said it deemed that the development, as proposed, “represents the disorderly over development”.

The Council said: “Accordingly, it is considered that to permit the proposed development, i.e. boarding kennels, would by itself, and by undeniable and unsustainable precedent, be contrary to the proper planning and orderly development of the area, particularly that of the residential sites and property generally.”

The decision may be appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

Retention permission was granted for a detached domestic garage and site works at the same location.

This is on condition that the development shall be retained strictly in accordance with lodged plans and details received by the local authority.

The domestic garage is to be used, says the Council, “solely for domestic purposes”, “shall not be used for any other purpose be that business, residential or other without a separate grant of planning permission” and “shall not be open to visiting members of the public”.