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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2002)
Page 12 The INDEPENDENT, October 17, 2002 anks council tells veterinary service to shut kennel operations Lengthy public hearings pre ceded the Banks City Council meeting Oct. 8, and resulted in a packed house to hear or tes tify about an appeal of a zoning violation and/or a chronic public nuisance. K. J. Won, Banks City Plan ner, told the council that Banks Veterinary Service (BVS) was notified in August that kennel operations at the ir building were a violation of the city’s zoning ordinance. Won said the written notice of violation em phasized that prohibition of kennel use was “made explicit at the time when city council originally approved the veteri nary service.” Dr. Steven Vrendenburg, who operates BVS with his wife, Jill, appealed the notice of violation and requested a pub lic hearing. When Vrendenburg request ed a hearing, Won said, his let ter noted that “most veterinary offices, including many in the Forest Grove, Cornelius, and H illsboro areas do limited boarding for their clients.” In his report Won told council that that an outdoor kennel is a pro hibited use in W ashington County, which is not the case with the outdoor kennel at BVS. An additional issue, Won said, is compatibility with the adjoin ing residential district. Based Coni Maze and F ruit & V egetables • U-P ick F lowers J im D andy F arm M arket 45770 N W S unset H wy ., B anks • 503/324-3954 CORNELIUS AUTO SALES ® TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU VERNONIA AND CORNELIUS CALL ANYTIME: 503-693-7031 1991 FORD EXPLORER Loaded, 76,000 miles............................................................................ ONLY.. $5,495 1995 PLY NEON 4-Door, loaded, low miles..... ......... $4,995 1995 PRIZM 4-Door, A/C, clean............ ....................... $3,495 1989 MONTERO SUV Loaded!.......... ................... $3,495 2000 HONDA CIVIC Auto, air, more!...... ............ $12,495 1994 HONDA ACCORD Loaded, nice!...... ........... $6,495 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM 1998 VW GOLF Loaded!.... ......... $5,495 Very clean........................................ $7,995 1997 VW PASSAT GLX WAGON 1993 FORD TAURUS 1995 JEEP 4-Door sedan Low miles.. $9,995 JUST... $2,995 So clean, low m iles!!...................ONLY... $7,995 1995 ISUZU RODEO Loaded, local rig...... ........... $7,995 Minivans - SUVs - Trucks - Cars We've got easy financing...call ahead! $ im (tfoL&Ji on his findings, Won recom mended that council deny the appeal. BVS would still have the option of seeking a change in zoning. In his response, Vrenden burg expressed astonishment that neighbors found it neces sary to sign a petition complain ing of noise at his kennel be cause, since beginning the service approximately a year ago, he had not once received a com plaint and his home phone number is clearly posted at BVS. Vrendenburg “apolo gized emphatically” for any dis turbance the kennel had caused but said he was un aware of a problem. The kennel is a minimal part of his practice, Vrendenburg said, and he start ed providing the service be cause clients were having diffi culty finding boarding space. Many of the animals he has boarded require daily medica tion and/or treatment. He also stressed that he often performs veterinary services for the com munity, such as picking up ani mals struck by autos and pro viding temporary boarding for strays. Most of the animals ken neled are inside a glassed-in room within the concrete block building, Vrendenburg said, and, since dogs are not usually left outside after dark, he didn’t understand how people could Please see page 13
