New Dog Training/Kennel Approved, Some Neighbors Concerned

NAUGATUCK, CT — The Zoning Commission voted last week to approve an application for a proposed dog training/kennel at 100 Hunters Mountain Road/Old Highway Road. The applicant is Black Rock Canines, LL and the principal owner is David Rivera.

The applicant's Attorney Kevin McSherry of Naugatuck explained some improvements made to the property and existing structures of animal pens and temporary kennels.

The property is approximately 33 acres. Most of the improvements are for access to the property such as millings up to the driveway and on the driveway and some temporary outside kennels as well as water lines onto the property.

The dogs that they will be training will be highly trained to be K-9 dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs as well as cadaver dogs. There are still some farm animals on the property as well. The fire department has gone up to the property with the fire truck to make sure they could maneuver to the property, the fire department also requested a sign be put up to signify the property.

There will be staff on the property at all times to tend to the dogs.

Bill Ostrander of 290 Hunters Mountain Road spoke out on the concern of the noise of barking dogs especially when the leaves fall off the trees. Also concerned about the signage and placement of the sign.

Rivera offered to plant evergreen trees along the northern property boundary. A discussion took place on all of the issues. He also questioned the road being deemed abandoned. It was explained to him he must speak to the street department or engineering to find out the information on the road.

Chris Pepin of 272 Hunters Mountain Road stated he did not receive notification even though he is in the perimeter to be notified. Ed Carter, ZEO looked up the certified letter returned slips and it shows that the owner listed on the assessors list, William Collins in Rocky Hill did sign for the certified letter. Mr. Pepin accepted that statement.

He also has concerns that there are dogs on the property and due process is not being followed, as well as the noise of so many dogs barking as well as having dogs being trained to be aggressive and being so close to residential houses especially his own.

Fencing and the millings on the road are also of great concern for the residents near the facility. Rocky Vitale, 180 East Waterbury Road, spoke in favor of this project. He believes it is in the best interest for Naugatuck’s economic growth and diversity.

Mr. Vitale stated there has been a new revised noise ordinance and it will have to meet the rules of that ordinance. Also sees it as an invaluable tool for all law enforcement.

Valerie Dunn of 268 Hunters Mountain Road, 911 dispatcher for Naugatuck’s Police department and retired air force of 26 years. Stated many concerns: putting a business in a residential area, laid down millings in front of her property on the road and was not notified, backhoe/bulldozer parked on her property overnight, road has been abandoned by the town, noise, wires were taken down by a big cement truck going to the property. Upset that notification did not go out to all neighbors.

Staff explained it was in the paper twice as per state requirement under legal notices and posted in the Town hall and all property owners in the perimeter were sent certified letters, there were
three.

Dave Rivera applicant addressed some of the issues. As for the noise, it is 1500 linear feet away from Mr. Ostrander’s property and the kennels will be at the furthest point of the property and are positioned so the noise will travel into the State forest.

Detailed discussion took place on the noise and decimals of a bark. The will be secondary fencing around the training areas and kennels. These dogs are not wild they are trained with extreme discipline. There will be about 15 employees working there.

Discussion took place on the dog waste and how the USDA has standards on composting, it will be
used as fertilizer throughout the property. Mr. Rivera is also running a water line to the property. He also stated that there are State and Federal Agencies in line that are ready to look and acquire dogs and these agencies will be staying here in town and purchasing food and spending money in town.

Now, 85% to 90% of the dogs acquired in the US are currently from other countries. A detailed discussion took place on breeding and timeline of the dogs that will be trained as a working dog.

Ed Carter, ZEO and Lori, Town Planner went out to the property, there were some dogs on the property and they only heard them bark as they got closer to the building. Discussion took place on evergreen trees to be planted as an additional noise barrier on the northern part of the property.

Wayne Malicki read into the record approvals from the following commissions: Fire,
Police, Planning, Wetlands was an administrative approval, engineering report is provided in the file, tax collector - N/A, WPCB - N/A. Also was discussed the planning provisions upon their positive referral, site plan with details of the kennels and location of well and whether valley health will be testing.