WESTFORD — The Zoning Board of Appeals approved an application for a use variance for a dog day care on Wednesday evening.
During a Sept. 18 meeting, Farrell and Robbins attorney Melissa Robbins met with the Zoning Board to request approval for an application for Zippy’s Dog House, a proposed dog day care at 123 Oak Hill Rd.
Applicants James and Lisa Payne requested a use variance for the day care and an 8-foot fence with a front yard setback of 10 feet instead of 35 feet, typically required under the town’s zoning bylaws.
These variances would allow them to board animals during the day. The applicants expect to house up to 80 animals at a time.
There will be no overnight boarding on the 2.57-acre property.
The board has previously approved use variances for the Ruff House in 2022. The applicants for Zippy’s agreed to the same conditions that the Ruff House previously agreed to.
The applicants requested to open one hour earlier, from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday to Sunday.
Conditions include that there shall be staff on premises whenever there are dogs on-site, dogs may only be walked on the property and the facility is limited to 110 dogs among others.
One concern was brought by Laksham Garikapaty, a resident of Russells Way, who voiced concerns about dog barking disturbing the peace.
The Zoning Board agreed that with the fencing, the abutting neighbors, tree buffers outside the fence, the open space on the property and the experienced staff supervising the dogs the noise should not be a problem.
The Zoning Board unanimously approved the application for the use variance for the dog day care and the variance for the fence.
