A local dog kennel is changing locations. The Edgecomb Planning Board ruled Thursday, Aug. 7  that The Coastal Dog is an agricultural, not a commercial operation. This paves the way for owner Alesia Norling to move the business from 478 Boothbay Road to 114 Middle Road.

Norling requested the designation to avoid a site plan review at the new location. 

The board voted 5-1 to designate the kennel as an agricultural business. The board concluded operating a kennel is defined as an agricultural operation after reviewing town ordinances and state statutes. Planning board member David Nutt was surprised to learn that housing dogs was an agricultural enterprise.

“It never really occurred to me that dogs are treated as being agricultural the same way horses are,” Nutt said.

But planning board member Barry Hathorne still disagreed. He cast the only dissenting vote. Hathorne believed a kennel should be characterized as a commercial venture. He likened a kennel to a hotel or motel.

“The only difference is that it’s dogs and not people,” Hathorne said. “This is a commercial use and it should be required to go through a site plan review.”

Hathorne said he had concerns about noise and traffic problems at the new location. He believed the site plan review would alleviate those problems caused by the kennel’s new site.

But the board’s majority disagreed. The board’s decision allows Norling to move without any further delays. She plans on expanding her operation in the new location. The new facility will house between 30-40 dogs during the day. At night, she plans on housing 20 dogs. She characterized her operation as a “home-style boarding” facility. The dogs will be allowed to roam inside her home or outside in a fenced in area.

The new kennel is located at Norling’s residence. She assured the board that her canine tenants would all meet certain behavior and health standards. Dogs described as continuous barkers wouldn’t be accepted, according to Norling. Also the dogs must be in good health with a pleasant demeanor before being allowed to stay in the kennel.

“All the dogs must fit in those guidelines,” Norling said. “I’m only accepting certain type of dogs. This is very much a home environment for me and the dogs. They’ll have the run of the house with the option of staying inside or outside.”

Prior to the meeting, Planning Board Chairman Jack French said he received over 50 calls complaining about the new location. According to French, most complaints dealt with noise coming from the large number of dogs in one location. However, Norling insisted that noise wouldn’t be a problem. She described her operation as being different than a traditional kennel. Canine’s staying at Coastal Dogs wouldn’t be housed in a traditional kennel consisting of a metal cage on a concrete floor.

By using her residence, she believed it world be a more quiet operation. She said any barking wouldn’t cascade and echo off the kennel’s metal and concrete.