Planning Commission Chair Judie Hogan told the supervisors during their October meeting that the new owners of Cozy Canine, 2575 Tract Road, Fairfield, are seeking a special exception to the township’s zoning ordinance.

Cozy Canine’s current owner received a special exception when she opened the business in the early 1990s, Hogan said. Another special exception is required because the new owners, Austin Bard and Jon Rodriquez, want to erect an additional building. The new building will allow the new owners to double the businesses’ capacity from 30 to 64 dogs.

Bard and Rodriquez told the planning commission during its September meeting that the increased capacity would meet a community need. The current owner often turns down clients because she lacks space, they said.

Hogan asked Bard and Rodriquez how they plan to control noise. The pair owns a similar-sized kennel in Chambersburg, they said, and do not field any complaints. The dogs are mostly quiet, Rodriquez said, with the exception of the excitement they express at morning and evening feeding times. The kennel will hire a manager who will live on the property so they can address any issues that arise with their guests, Rodriquez said.

Rodriquez said the increased capacity should not affect traffic on Tract Road. The kennel will use software to schedule staggered drop-off and pick-up times with its clients.

The planning commission unanimously expressed no objection to the kennel receiving a special exception. Hogan told Rodriquez and Bard they would need to submit a formal land development plan before they could begin construction.

In other land-related business, the township approved a 90-day extension for Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph’s land development plan. Hogan said the original plan was peppered with errors that prevented it from moving forward. Township Engineer Dominic Picarelli of KPI Technology said the property straddles Liberty and Hamiltonban townships so approval of the monastery’s expansion is taking several months. Picarelli added the new buildings are proposed for Hamiltonban but Liberty must be concerned about how they affect sewage capacity and stormwater control.

Picarelli suggested Liberty Township officials investigate whether the monastery has added sheds or other buildings without proper approval since it was first constructed 10 years ago.