Planning Commision's Meeting Goes to the Dogs

The Mentor Planning Commission’s meeting Thursday night went to the dogs, sort of.

Even though some planning commission members had concerns, they approved a conditional use permit for Bart Stein to open a dog day care facility at 7472 Tyler Boulevard.

Bart Stein, who expects to open Dog Daze by February or March, said the dog day care facility would eventually take care of up to 75 dogs. The animals, he said, would be managed by two or three employees.

But Mentor Planning Administrator Ric Spence questioned whether two or three employees would be enough to take care of the dogs. He said the Pet Care Services Association, a trade group for pet care services businesses, recommends one employee per 15 dogs.

“I visited numerous dog day care centers and never have I seen that kind of requirement or that kind of staff ---- one person per 15 dogs,” said Stein of Beachwood. “I don’t think it’s realistic, personally.”

Stein said the business would not be able to thrive if the number of dogs would be limited to less than 75.

What’s more, Stein said the dogs are “interviewed” for their obedience and behavior.

“If we find that they don’t jell well with the rest of the animals, they will be put in the kennel and they won’t be invited back,” said Stein.

Planning Commission Member Thomas Huth has a relative who uses a dog day care facility on Cleveland’s east side.

“The process that he (Stein) suggests about the interviewing is absolutely what takes place,” said Huth. “There are dogs that are not welcome ---- as funny as that sounds ---- but it’s true because if you get the wrong (dogs) it doesn’t work, right?”

“Absolutely,” said Stein.

But Planning Commission Member Katherine Cimperman had several concerns, including how the dog waste would be cleaned up.

Stein said the waste would be cleaned up immediately by employees and put in a dumpster that would be emptied daily.

“How do you pick up urine?” Cimperman asked.

“Well, you hose it down and mop it,” Stein answered, explaining there is a drain in the center of the floor.

“How do you hose it down when you have 30 or 40 dogs running around?” Cimperman asked.

“You hose it down with a hose,” said Stein. “They mop it up in every dog care  (facility) in this country.”

“I am having a little bit of confusion here,” said Cimperman. “How are you going to do that when you have dogs clustered around together in this area. I personally don’t see how you are going to have 75 dogs in there without having some major issues.”

To allay concerns, Planning Commission Vice Chair William Snow asked Spence to add a stipulation to the conditional use permit that the city monitor the business’ operations.

In other business,  the planning commission approved an identification sign for the Read House at 8245 Mentor Avenue. It is used by the Mentor Public Library for offices, reading rooms and community outreach. City code requires the commission to approve the installation of signs for public or religious institutions in residential areas.