A nonprofit animal rescue, New Leash on Life, is urging support from Crown Point residents after receiving disappointing news regarding their chosen location. At the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on August 24, members voted unanimously against rezoning the property for the proposed 20,000-square-foot facility at 12430 South Court Street.
New Leash on Life will present their project to the Crown Point City Council at 6 p.m. on September 8 at Crown Point City Hall, located at 101 N. East Street, seeking approval. The organization released a computer-generated rendering of the planned shelter.
Opposition came from a luxury home community and a building contractor, expressing concerns about noise, property values, traffic, and allergens. The Board reported receiving 60 to 70 objection letters.
Founder Donna Burrell Pace expressed surprise at the Board’s decision and encouraged supporters to contact council members before the meeting. “They need to write letters, make phone calls, and attend the meeting on September 8 to demonstrate that the shelter is needed in Crown Point,” Pace stated.
“It would be a shame for a small group of 60 to decide for 34,000 people in Crown Point. The shelter is vital, especially since we collaborate with St. Jude House to ensure domestic violence survivors can keep their pets safe.”
The proposed property is a residential zone located at Burrell Drive and Court Street. It features a wooded perimeter and a pond, positioned among other nonprofit facilities.
BZA Vice-Chairman Jeremy Taylor moved for an unfavorable recommendation, seconded by member John Marshall. Reasons included intensity of use differing from surrounding properties and insufficient mitigation measures to protect neighboring areas.
Rick Mossell, a business partner with Golden Meadows Subdivision, voiced strong opposition during public comments, citing concerns about noise from outside kennels.
“We bought that property knowing it was zoned residential and didn’t expect outside facilities could change that. It’s unrealistic to think noise can be fully blocked,” Mossell argued.
Golden Meadows resident Diana Murray reflected on substantial noise from nearby YMCA activities, implying similar issues could arise with the shelter.
New Leash on Life’s engineering firm, DVG Team Inc., highlighted spatial buffers like trees between the proposed facility and nearby residences.
Project manager Caleb Kreis emphasized noise-reduction and stress mitigation efforts, noting collaborations with architects renowned for designing similar facilities.
St. Jude House’s executive director, Anna Schoon, expressed strong support for the animal shelter’s location due to the positive impact on domestic violence survivors.
“Pets play a critical role in survivor safety and healing. Having the shelter close enables survivors to stay connected with their pets,” Schoon noted.
The Crown Point Community Foundation plans a single-story office complex at the same site and supports New Leash on Life’s vision. They aim to build walking paths for community use.
The City Council previously approved zoning changes for the Community Foundation’s site. The plan could realize a new facility by 2027.
Leave a Reply