WICOMICO COUNTY COUNCIL HAS A CHANGE OF HEART, WILL NOW RECONSIDER DOG KENNEL BILL
Wicomico County, MD - The Wicomico County Council announced that they will now reconsider Legislative Bill 2025-01, which pertains to dog kennels, at its legislative meeting on February 18, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers at the Government Office Building, located at 125 N. Division Street in Salisbury, Maryland.
The County Council will review the setback distance requirement and consider an amendment to the bill that would allow the Board of Appeals to modify the setback requirement by special exception.
The reconsideration by Council is intended to ensure that existing kennel operators with a special exception under the current code can continue to operate beyond the three-year sunset period without needing to reapply.
In today's press release, the County Council stated that "Despite social media misrepresentations, the County Council's intentions were never to put existing kennel operators out of business nor to cause undue hardship".
That said, it should not take a social media page such as Eastern Shore Undercover, from making these informational and factual posts and podcasts to inform the community, and for the County Executive Julie Giordano, to rush around and attempt to save local businesses.
Following the adoption of Legislative Bill 2025-01 which increased the setback distance, it was brought to the Council's attention that the increased setback requirement could pose significant challenges for existing kennel operators. Since the first day following its last meeting, Council members and staff have worked closely with legal counsel and kennel owners to quickly resolve this matter.
The fact is that statement is misleading in it of itself. We are aware that the council was briefed by County Attorney and the County Administrator also confirmed to the County Executive that this was in fact the County Council's decision and what they wanted to do.
The County Council will review the setback distance requirement and consider an amendment to the bill that would allow the Board of Appeals to modify the setback requirement by special exception.
The reconsideration by Council is intended to ensure that existing kennel operators with a special exception under the current code can continue to operate beyond the three-year sunset period without needing to reapply.
In today's press release, the County Council stated that "Despite social media misrepresentations, the County Council's intentions were never to put existing kennel operators out of business nor to cause undue hardship".
That said, it should not take a social media page such as Eastern Shore Undercover, from making these informational and factual posts and podcasts to inform the community, and for the County Executive Julie Giordano, to rush around and attempt to save local businesses.
Following the adoption of Legislative Bill 2025-01 which increased the setback distance, it was brought to the Council's attention that the increased setback requirement could pose significant challenges for existing kennel operators. Since the first day following its last meeting, Council members and staff have worked closely with legal counsel and kennel owners to quickly resolve this matter.
The fact is that statement is misleading in it of itself. We are aware that the council was briefed by County Attorney and the County Administrator also confirmed to the County Executive that this was in fact the County Council's decision and what they wanted to do.
