Granby Planning and Zoning Approves Bandit’s Place

At their meeting Tuesday evening, the Granby Planning and Zoning Commission approved the application to convert a property located at 59 Meadow Brook Road for use as an animal shelter.

Liz Bennett, founder of Bandit’s Place, Inc., currently houses abandoned animals in her home in East Hartland, but wanted additional housing for the animals. As a result, she pursued the use of the Meadow Brook Road property for a shelter. 

The approval came with eight different conditions stipulating such things as size, the amount of animal pens and the hours that the animals are permitted outside during the day. 

Although Bennett, received approval from the commission, she expressed concern over the number of stipulations placed on the application. 

“I wish we were told that there would be stipulations,” Bennett said after the commission approved the application. 

She was especially concerned with not being able to have outside pens and limitations on windows and doors to the kennel as well as fundraising. 

Bennett said the stipulations were “stringent” and is very frustrated with them, due to the fact that she spent $260 of “rescue money” to apply.

“I wish I had known,” Bennett said.  

The hearing on the application closed at the commission’s last meeting on Jan. 25, but the decision was postponed until the meeting Tuesday evening. 

The commission went through each of the eight conditions during the meeting, which were listed on a memorandum from Director of Community Development Francis Armentano. 

Chairwoman Paula Johnson suggested alterations to some of the conditions regarding how many animals may be sheltered as well as whether the animals should be fully supervised when outdoors. 

According to the memo, the conditions include a footprint that is no larger than 1200 square feet, a building on site that conforms with the town zoning regulations and no more than six animal pens and no more than six adult dogs sheltered at one time.

Other conditions include permitting the dogs outside only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and no outside runs/outside cages unless approved by the commission. Additionally, the building will be designed to limit noise of barking dogs, be air conditioned and heated, and that there shall be no penetrations (windows, doors, fans, etc.) on the south side of the building.

And finally, the memo states that site activity will be minimal and the property will be used primarily by volunteers caring for the animals.