Disposition Summary

Approve pet grooming as a permitted use in the OB (Office, Medical, and Related Services) zone.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve pet grooming as a permitted use in the OB (Office, Medical, and Related Services) zone.

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The property at 8537 Asheville Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37924 is zoned OB (Office, Medical, and Related Services), which does not identify pet grooming as a permitted use. The applicant, Daneen Stallings, is requesting to add a pet grooming facility within a multi-unit office building in the OB zone.

The Knox County Zoning Code authorizes the Planning Commission to allow other uses to locate in the OB zone upon a finding that the intent of this resolution is maintained. The general intent of this zone is to provide areas for professional and business offices and related activities that require separate buildings and building groups surrounded by landscaped yards and open areas. The intent herein is to provide centralized, compact locations for business offices, clinics, medical, and dental offices near residential neighborhoods.

This similar use determination request is for a pet grooming business by appointment only. The unit is 800 sq ft and has three separate areas for bathing, grooming and kenneling. The business hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am-4pm and Saturday 9am-3pm (Closed on Wednesday and Sunday), which coincides with other professional business hours. There are 2 kennels located in the back of the office building to reduce noise. Since the business is by appointment only, any kenneling would be temporary and would not be overnight. Appointment only service will also reduce the number of pets on site at any one time. The pet grooming facility is not anticipated to have any adverse effects on adjacent businesses or residences. Because it is similar to professional and business offices including beauty shops, it is the opinion of the staff that a pet grooming facility maintains the intent of the OB zoning district and should be considered a permitted use.