By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
HOBART – Proposed changes to the village code as it relates to the number of dogs allowed in a residence will be up for final approval July 20 by the Hobart village board.
The board held a first reading of the ordinance revision at its July 6 meeting and agreed to have a second reading take place two weeks later when it could be enacted.
Village Administrator Aaron Kramer said the proposed changes, which will be published in their entirety in Hobart’s newsletter and on social media, would limit residential parcels of 2.5 acres or less to two dogs and residential parcels with more than 2.5 acres to five dogs.
Kramer said someone owning two adjacent parcels adding up to more than 2.5 acres would also be able to keep up to five dogs.
He said the proposed revision includes a grandfather clause in which a residential property owner with more than the number of dogs allowed at the time the ordinance is enacted would not be required to remove any dogs from the property.
However, Kramer said the property owner would not be able to replace dogs over the limit.
In the event a property owner has a litter of pups, he said the proposed revision has an exception to exceed the maximum number of dogs allowed up to 12 weeks old.
Kramer said the village is revising the code as it relates to dogs so they will no longer be regulated as a conditional use in a residential district, nor will it require someone keeping more than two dogs to file a statement with the clerk-treasurer.
“It basically sets the limit at two (dogs on residential property of 2.5 acres or less) and five (dogs on residential property greater than 2.5 acres),” he said.
Rezoning
After holding two public hearings, the board approved a pair of rezoning requests July 6.
The zoning at 1486 County Line Road was changed from ER, Estate Residential, to R2R, Rural Residential.
The lot was developed with a residential structure, and the property owner proposed a land division to create two separate parcels with both parcels being less than 2.5 acres as required in the ER zoning district.
A change to the R2R zoning was requested because both parcels will be greater than an acre, but less than 2.5 acres.
A portion of a parcel at 220 Trout Creek Road was rezoned from A1, Agricultural, to ER.
The property owner recently submitted a single-lot certified survey map, which created a new parcel less than the 5-acre minimum to remain zoned A1.
As a result, the property owner requested to have a portion of the parcel rezoned to allow for the existing single-family residential dwelling to remain on the smaller lot.