Despite Changes To Plan, Opposition Remains To Fairfield Dog Hospital

FAIRFIELD, CT — Opposition remains against a proposed animal hospital and dog hotel on the Post Road in Southport, though the applicant continues to make adjustments to the plan to gain approval by the Town Plan and Zoning Commission.

Spot On Veterinary Hospital & Hotel, owned by Dr. Philip Putter, is proposing the facility move into a former Hyundai car dealership at 2269 Post Road, much of which is surrounded by residential properties.

During a P&Z meeting this week, Attorney John Knuff, who represents Spot On, said that the original application called for an outdoor play area for dogs that encompassed the entire southern end of the building and a portion of the western side.

Those plans have now been scaled back to eliminate those outdoor play areas, and the only outside area will be a small one for a single leashed dog to relieve themselves. Knuff said Putter adjusted the proposal, because he wants to be a responsible and respectful neighbor.

Residents have complained that the facility could smell bad, and also be disruptively loud with the sounds of multiple barking dogs.

"As I've said, Dr. Putter did not come to this decision lightly," Knuff told the commission. "He spoke to his wife, his partner, he spoke to staff, his colleagues, customers, patients, but came to the decision to completely eliminate those areas."

Knuff added that despite the decision to eliminate the play area, Putter was "very confident in his ability to maintain that area conducive to the residential area."

Additionally, the facility will eliminate some parking at the rear of the property, which will allow for a larger buffer area and screening and trees for neighbors.

"Given the limitations we've placed on ourselves, the dogs in the neighborhood will have a greater impact than the dogs in this facility," Knuff said.

Benjamin Proto, an attorney who represents several of the abutting and area neighbors, said that "no one is denying that dog daycare is a viable business" for Fairfield or other communities, but just that it should not be allowed to abut a residential neighborhood.

Proto zeroed in on the text amendment to Fairfield's zoning regulations that Spot On is seeking to change to allow for dog daycare to be in a residential zone.

Allowing it, Proto said, "runs counter to everything this commission has ever done as it relates to dog daycare."

The proposal calls for daycare and overnight boarding for dozens of dogs at a time.

Commission Chair Tom Noonan questioned whether residents would still oppose the facility if everything was inside, that dogs would not be allowed outside, such as to relieve themselves.

Don Hyman, one of the residents opposing the proposal, told Patch that even though Spot On keeps modifying the plan, it is still not adequate for the site. He and other neighbors are part of a group called the Alliance for Peaceful Fairfield Neighborhoods, which opposes the plan.

"The debate, however, is hardly over. It will continue March 14," Hyman said. The commission continued the hearing to the 14th.

"Many of us will be back to argue that this is the wrong location for a dog hotel, especially one with capacity for 77 dogs... and all that comes with 77 dogs," Hyman said. "There are other commercial and industrial spaces in Fairfield that don't directly abut quiet residential neighborhoods. Those sites are better suited for this kind of business, and they can be more easily compliant with existing Fairfield zoning regulations. If zoning regulations are changed to permit dog day care kennels on commercial land, even if that land abuts residential neighborhoods, many other neighborhoods like our own will be at risk for this kind of quality of life intrusion."