The Dorr Township Planning Commission Tuesday night adopted a resolution to recommend adoption of the new master plan and approved a special use request for a couple to operate a commercial kennel on property zoned agricultural.

Commissioner Larry Dolegowski remarked, “Finally, after two and a half years.”

Indeed the commission and Township Board have been examining and tweaking the master plan for more than two years because of the Covid pandemic. The previous master plan had been adopted in 2007.

Planner Nathan Mehmed of Williams and Works, who has been guiding the process for all this time, said all the preliminary work has been completed and all that’s left is for the Township Board to take it up.

The only comment at the public hearing came from former Township Trustee Norm Fifelski, who expressed concerns about continuing the “Village” designation for property near 16^th Street and 142nd Avenue. He said if enough commercial zoning was permitted there it would detract from the downtown of Dorr.

Caleb and Hillary Dumond asked for special use permit for then to operate a commercial kennel at 1503 138^th Ave. Neighbors Kenneth and Kathy Estelle objected in writing, insisting a kennel would create a noise and traffic nuisance. The Estelles plan to build a house to the immediate west of the Dumonds.

However, there were no other objections.

Furthermore, Caleb Dumond said he and his wife would mitigate noise from barking by using individual insulated cabins for the canines.

They plan to board and perhaps even train dogs in the property and will keep daily houts of 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Zoning Administrator Lori Castello of Professional Code Inspections said without zoning the couple could keep up to three dogs and they are asking to harbor six.

Dolegowski said, “I think you’ve come up with the best plan you can,”

Both votes on the master plan and special use permit were passed 6-0.