West Hartford Dog Park Gets Major PZC Boost

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The town's temporary dog park received a major boost this week when the local zoning board extended a temporary permit indefinitely to operate it at its current site.

Following a public hearing, the West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission voted 5-0 Monday, July 10, to extend the special permit for 100 Mayflower St. until the town begins work at the old school site.

Last September, the West Hartford Dog Park Coalition applied for and received PZC approval to operate a temporary dog park at the site of the old St. Brigid School, which is now owned by the town.

Currently, the St. Brigid School parcel will be home to a new community/senior center and library, and construction of that project is a main reason why this is still a temporary dog park location.

With construction not yet beginning, David Coleman, co-president of the dog park coalition, sought a special permit to extend the dog park's temporary location until the town is ready to use the property.

Once that happens, the dog park will close and, possibly, relocate to another temporary site or, even, permanently be stationed there once construction is done, requiring a new process before land-use boards.

Prior to the permit extension vote, the PZC also approved a compliance review for the September 2022 vote.

Essentially, the PZC voted 5-0 to state the dog park coalition was operating in compliance with the September 2022 mandates and those mandates also apply to the permit extension vote.

Coleman said the dog park has quickly become a success and is an entrenched part of the West Hartford dog lover community.

"Since the dog park opened 7 months ago, it has been a huge success. As co-presidents, my wife and I are there 4-5 days per week, and we frequently ask dog owners about their experience," Coleman wrote to the PZC. "Their response has been overwhelmingly positive."

For the minutes of the July 10 West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

For the West Hartford Dog Park Coalition's status report submitted to the town, click on this link.

For the special permit extention application, click on this link.

From June 25: 'Open-Ended Temporary Permit Sought For West Hartford Dog Park'