St. Michael Council Will Get Final Say on Pet Boarding Facility

Like so many of the dogs a facility like the one proposed by Dram Investments might train, a new pet "hub" in St. Michael is going to have to jump through a few hoops.

The St. Michael Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the new store at the former Sports Diamond (and old flooring spot) at 12246 42nd St. NE in St. Michael, paving the way for a pet store/boarding/possible vet off Highway 241 in eastern St. Michael.

But there will be several stipulations in place, in efforts to appease some concerned neighbors.

Mark Oshlansky of Dram Investments, a business based in Golden Valley is hoping to turn the former sports retailer into a pet grooming, boarding and training location, with a complete pet store on the retail front.

The request is to have a dog run and dog boarding as part of the complex, something that the city said drew some concerns from neighbors in the industrial and retail complex along Highway 241.

Oshlansky originally said the building cold hold “up to 150 dogs,” according to his request for a conditional use permit with the city.

That drew some raised eyebrows from business owners in the area, the P and Z board and the city council, as concerns of noise, smell and traffic were expressed.

The developer continued to work with the city, and said 50 to 75 dogs would be adequate to make the business work. The applicant also hopes to have an area on the complex to use for outdoor training and exercise.

The P and Z board placed several conditions on the conditional use permit (CUP) neaded to create the pet daycare, including a possible review of the site by city staff and a city-led reaction to any complaints neighbors might raise about the site.

There were three main sticking points:

First, neighbors are asking for assurance the site won't be too noisy, or smelly. Language was placed into the CUP that the pet daycare must start with a max of 50 dogs for boarding, and fencing must be placed around the sides and exterior of the building. Waste must be cleaned up and tossed out multiple times daily, and all outdoor areas are to remain clean.

Second, neighbors were concerned about possible safety issues, including the number of staff members handling dogs outside during training or "other" activities in the fenced-in area. The board asked the facility to maintain a supervised area where dogs who need it can have one-on-one attention. Other areas must maintain a 15-to-1 ratio.

Finally, a review of the site must be conducted by city staff after a year to assess the situation.

Concerns were raised by neighbors, including Mike Torgesen of Precision Plumbing–who said he was "very concerned" about the proposal and the impact it might have on his new store. 

David Carlson, another neighbor, stated he was in favor of giving the business a "chance," but asked the city to keep a close eye on the situation.

At its March 27 meeting, the St. Michael City Council seemed open to the proposal, but had questions about the number of animals the facility might hold. With the number agreed at 50 council told city staff the proposal might work.

City council member Joe Marx said March 27 that he likes the idea, but the city should work closely with businesses in that neighborhood to make sure everyone’s OK with the new development.

The council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at