Planning board approves overnight boarding for Big Daddy Doggy Daycare with floor‑plan condition

The Malden Planning Board voted 9–0 on June 10 to grant Big Daddy Doggy Daycare a special permit to add overnight boarding (a kennel) at its 10 Maplewood Street location, subject to a required submission of a final kennel floor plan to the building inspector before the kennel may be occupied.

Attorney Roberto DeMarco and owners Tina and Jenny Lagard told the board the business has operated for years as a doggy daycare, that prior operators had irregular permitting, and that the new owners are investing to bring the facility into full compliance. The owners said they will install industry‑standard galvanized steel kennel enclosures with impervious tile flooring, keep staff on site 24/7 with camera access, and operate the daycare generally from about 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (some later pickups). They described a daytime capacity policy (10 dogs per staff member) with a current facility maximum of 20 dogs during the day and an intended boarding cap of 10 dogs per night; owners said typical nightly boarding currently averages three to four dogs.

Planning staff noted the basement site is a pre‑existing nonconforming space and that the packet contained existing‑conditions plans but not a proposed kennel floor plan; the staff recommendation supported the special permit with conditions, including that any required building permits for kennel enclosures be obtained. Board member Eric Henry moved to approve the special permit and add an explicit condition requiring the petitioners to submit a completed kennel floor plan to the building inspector prior to kennel occupancy; Pat Hayes seconded. The motion carried by roll call vote, 9–0.

Speakers at the hearing included multiple clients and neighbors who described positive experiences with the daycare and no history of disruptive barking or waste problems. Planning staff and the owners specified operational controls (quarantine enclosure, emergency‑vet plan, commercial trash service) that will be in place before kennel operations begin.

What happens next: the owners must submit required building permits and a final floor plan for the kennel area; the building inspector will review those materials before the kennel can be occupied.