Gurnee OKs new doggy day care
Gurnee village board members Monday night bit on another proposal for a dog day care center.
Village trustees, by a 4-2 vote, approved Central Bark, the latest such operation to hit Gurnee. Trustees gave a thumbs-up to the upscale Who's Your Puppy? late last year.
Central Bark franchise co-owners Cynthia and Joseph Faulkner received a special-use permit to open the canine facility in an industrial area close to a planned townhouse project. Central Bark will be at 1519 St. Paul Ave., just north of Route 41.
Trustee David Ohanian, who cast one of the dissenting votes, said he was concerned the village board was being unfair to Who's Your Puppy? because Central Bark is allowed to have more dogs at its business.
Central Bark's permit allows a maximum of 60 dogs, while Who's Your Puppy? can accommodate 30 canines.
However, Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik said the village board is supposed to examine individual proposals in cases where a special permit is needed to operate.
"That's the beauty of special uses," Kovarik said. "We can make them up as we go."
Gurnee trustees had been slated to vote on Central Bark on Feb. 4, but some of the elected officials voiced concern about its proximity to the proposed condos and the concept of having some dogs in night-time accommodations. Central Bark attorney Thomas Hood tried to allay the board's concerns Monday night.
As a condition of the special permit, Central Bark cannot have more than 20 dogs playing outside at a time and must have a minimum of one human handler present.
Not far from Central Bark, Who's Your Puppy? gained village board approval to open last November. Slated for Ambrogio Drive, northwest of Washington Street and Route 41, Who's Your Puppy? bills its day care center and kennel as a canine version of a Westin hotel.
Who's Your Puppy? plans to offer full salon services, daily brushing and holistic healing. It will have 21 private suites with cable television on LCD monitors, orthopedic beds and speakers for soothing music.