PARIS — The Planning Board on Tuesday approved a site plan for a dog kennel on Paris Hill, despite complaints from neighbors worried about noise from the business.
Sharon and Carl Nightingale plan to open an overnight boarding kennel that could accommodate up to 10 dogs at their property at 234 Paris Hill Road.
In a presentation to the board in December, the couple said dogs would only stay at their business on weekends. They intend to house the dogs in 4- by 6-foot kennels in an insulated, soundproof garage specially outfitted for the animals.
However, several neighbors expressed concern about the plan during a public hearing prior to the board meeting Tuesday.
Bernard Scribner, who owns property abutting the Nightingales, said he was mainly concerned that barking dogs would create a nuisance in the quiet neighborhood. Paris does not have a barking dog ordinance that would allow the town to deal with any issues that might arise, he said.
“There’s no backbone to stop the noise if it should happen,” Scribner said. “I’m not saying it’s going to. These people have two dogs now. You wouldn’t think they had any. But if you’re taking care of four or five other people’s dogs, it’s pretty hard to control,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Mark Bruneau, another abutter who said he did not want the kennel next to his house. “It’s basically in my backyard,” he told the board.
Board member James Hakala said he had to take into account the handful of letters sent to the board by abutters opposing the kennel.
The Nightingales said they were trying their best to be good neighbors and already addressed many of the concerns in their site plan. Sharon Nightingale pointed out that the Planning Board only received letters opposing their plan from four of their 10 abutters.
Recognizing the fact that the Nightingales received state certification for their business and that the plan was not in violation of any town ordinances, board member Michael Risica motioned to approve the site plan. Chairman Russ Case, Risica and Henry Raymond voted to approve; Hakala abstained. Member Franca Ainsworth did not attend the meeting.
pmcguire@sunjournal.com
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- Paris Hill resident Bernard Scribner expresses his opposition to plans for an overnight dog kennel approved by the Paris Planning Board on Tuesday.
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