‘Too close to a residential area’: Libertyville nixes luxury dog boarding facility

A proposed luxury dog boarding and daycare facility operators say would feature chandeliers and a reception area akin to a Ritz-Carlton hotel for canines has been rejected in Libertyville.

K9 Resorts, a national chain that wants to establish itself in the Chicago area, was seeking village approval to repurpose a vacant FedEx facility at 1405 Butterfield Road, in the Butterfield Square shopping center.

Other features of the proposed nearly $3 million facility would include advanced air handling and sound reduction systems.

“We're giving dogs and owners peace of mind,” said Zack Nisbet, co-founder of Luxury Pet Hotel Investments LLC, a franchise group looking to build eight K9 Resorts in the Chicago area.

“You know when you bring your dog to a K9 Resort they're going to get a five-star experience and be in the best facility they can be.”

Village officials — including some self-described dog lovers — liked the concept but agreed with the town’s advisory plan commission in unanimously saying it isn’t appropriate at Butterfield Square.

“I encourage you to have a business in Libertyville but in a different place,” said Trustee Kara Macdonald.

To operate in Butterfield Square, K9 Resorts needed the shopping center plan amended and a special use permit for a dog boarding facility in the building, which has been vacant for three years.

Village planners said overnight dog boarding is not appropriate in a shopping center district due to noise and odor near other commercial businesses and residents.

Some residents contended barking dogs could created a domino effect through neighborhoods.

“It's much too close to a residential area and we don't know what the sound is going to be like,” said Trustee Scott Adams.

K9 Resorts planned to convert the 7,500-square-foot building to house up to 100 dogs, although the daily attendance was expected to be about 50.

“What makes us special is the high-end, sophisticated build out that we invest in,” Nisbet said.

That includes a $500,000 system that exchanges the air inside every four minutes and sound-dampening materials for interior walls and exterior fencing.

“Dogs inside will never be heard outside,” he said.

The company was willing to add a roof to the exterior play area to further reduce noise and agreed to a six-month review as a condition of approval.

“If there’s a problem after we open, we’ll take whatever steps we need to to address those concerns,” Nisbet said.

After the vote, Mayor Donna Johnson said she hopes K9 Resorts would not “summarily dismiss” the village but consider other locations in town.

“We would love to have your business,” she said.

Forty-five K9 Resorts are operating in the U.S. The first Chicago-area location opened in Deerfield in June and another is being proposed in Palatine.