Kewaskum planners ask staff to draft kennel zoning rules after public comments from local breeder and vets

Kewaskum — Kewaskum Plan Commission members on June 23 directed staff to draft an ordinance to regulate home-based dog-breeding kennels in RS1 and RD1 residential districts after hearing from a local dog-daycare operator and two prospective breeders.

Adam, a village staff member, opened the discussion by saying the draft approach would allow kennels only when part of a single-family, owner-occupied residence (excluding planned-unit developments), incorporate minimum parcel requirements, licensing/registration and operational standards for setbacks, fencing, noise control and waste management. He cautioned the commission that "there was case law that came down that you're not allowed to deny a conditional use permit if what you have in your code is allowable by that conditional use permit," and recommended careful, clear drafting of any conditional-use restrictions.

Gary Gavin, who owns an in-town doggy daycare and the 4-acre property under consideration, told the commission his daycare had handled up to 80 dogs across a spring-break weekend without receiving complaints and argued the proposed zoning could work when operators adhere to standards. "During spring break, we actually had 80 dogs there ... We've had zero complaints," Gavin said.

Prospective operators Marty Greer and Dan Griffith described their background in veterinary practice and small-scale breeding. "On average, we have 1 to two litters a year. Our litters are 3 to seven puppies on average ... we're not a large scale breeder," Greer said, adding that their animals are AKC-registered and their clinic network supports breeder oversight. Commissioners and staff discussed state thresholds for commercial regulation: speakers noted Wisconsin's dog-sellers rules applied to commercial operations that exceed roughly three litters or 25 dogs sold in a year.

Commissioners asked a series of operational and enforcement questions: should noise limits be quantified (decibel thresholds), how to define "regular" waste removal, whether the village should require veterinary inspections or use a designated reviewer, and how to set a minimum parcel size so the rule would apply to only a few rural parcels rather than many small residential lots. Staff suggested a three-acre guideline emerged from a parcel review but said exact numbers should be confirmed during drafting.

Why it matters: The drafting of a kennel ordinance will set where and how dog-breeding can occur in Kewaskum's residential zones, determining which residents may operate breeder-owners and what enforcement and inspection mechanisms the village will use.

Next steps: Staff will assemble ordinance language reflecting the commission's feedback, arrange required public hearings and seek attorney review; the item is expected to return to the commission in July.

Speakers quoted here appear as named in the meeting transcript or by functional role.