Springfield Planning Board approves Select Shepherds kennel with conditions on noise, dog counts and operations

The Springfield Planning Board on July 16, 2026 approved the Select Shepherds kennel site plan with a set of conditions designed to limit noise and define operational standards.

Mike Howard, acting as chair for the hearing, said the primary outstanding issue was how the kennel would be populated and that the board should adopt the applicant’s proposed animal-count condition. The board voted to accept a condition that limits the facility to no more than 15 adult dogs (dogs older than 16 weeks) and 12 puppies (dogs less than 16 weeks) on the property at one time; the motion passed by roll call with Ken Jacques, Jen Roberts and Mike Howard voting aye and John Trachy voting nay.

The conditions approved by the board require the applicant to file building plans with the Planning Board before a zoning permit is issued, provide as-built plans after construction, and supply documentation of NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) septic approval and town health officer sign-off. The board also required dark-sky compliant, shielded lighting with no light trespass; signage limited to 12 square feet; no on-street parking related to the kennel; and weekly removal of bagged waste consistent with the DES-approved plan.

To address neighborhood noise concerns, the board’s conditions specify that adult dogs shall be housed in a portion of the structure designed with an expert acoustician and that mitigation measures (which may include siting, vegetation, fencing and building treatments) shall reduce peak kennel-related noise measured at all points of the applicant’s property line to ambient levels or below in the Hogg Hill neighborhood. The applicant’s acoustician must re-measure ambient and kennel-related noise after mitigation is installed. The board also imposed quiet hours from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., during which dogs are permitted outside only for individual bathroom breaks.

Attorney Sheridan Brown, representing the applicants, told the board the applicants expect a concrete pad and described likely building materials and interior mitigation treatments; he objected to an iterative pre-approval process that would require repeated expert visits solely to refine plans. Board members said they sought an initial architectural plan on file that would not create a secondary approval loop but would allow staff to issue permits and enable post-construction verification by the acoustician.

Member John Trachy asked that the board record a Findings of Fact to include the Zoning Board of Adjustment’s clarification on adult/puppy definitions; other members said the board has not generally required Findings of Fact in prior approvals and preferred to accept the ZBA’s clarification and the applicant’s proposed wording as conditions. The Zoning Board’s clarification (submitted to the Planning Board and reviewed during the hearing) stated Condition 1 limits adult dogs to 15 (defined as 16 weeks and older) and Condition 2 addresses the scale of breeding by limiting transfers/sales over a 12-month period.

Mike Howard moved to approve the application with the drafted conditions; Jen Roberts seconded. The application was approved by majority vote and the hearing was closed at 7:58 p.m. Chair Tanner Jacques, who had recused earlier for the hearing, returned to chair the remainder of the meeting.

Next steps include the applicant submitting final building plans to the Planning Department for zoning-permit issuance, construction of the kennel, and ambient noise testing by the acoustician to confirm compliance with the board’s decibel condition. If post-construction testing shows the condition is not met, the board indicated the site plan approval may be revisited.