Hoosick Planning Board Action – Animal Lodging Facility Approved

by Bea Peterson
At its regular meeting on Monday, August 15, the Hoosick Planning Board read the Zoning Board of Appeals review of the request by Tracy Muscatello to open an Animal Lodging Facility on a 4.7 acre site she is leasing from Verizon. The chain link fenced area contains two existing commercial buildings and is located on Route 67. Muscatello plans to use the existing lighting and fencing. She will be renovating the interiors of both buildings. The Pet Spa will accommodate up to 20 dogs for boarding and grooming.
The Board waived the site plan review and accepted the Zoning Board’s reports. The ZBA has had a public hearing on the project and has issued Muscatello a permit to open the Spa.
The Planning Board approved the project and authorized Chairman Jim Dunigan to review the draft minutes of the ZBA August 1 meeting and the permit issued and obtain a copy of each for the Planning Board. Once those are in hand he will notify Muscatello that she can begin renovations on the facility. It is expected this will happen within a week.
Muscatello had originally wanted to construct a 7,000 square foot dog kennel on her 22 acre property on the Buskirk-West Hoosick Road. The kennel would have contained 26 luxury suites and nine standard kennels, a large daycare center, a small play area for older dogs, a reception area, a cattery, an exam room, a grooming room, a kitchen, a laundry area and a mechanical room. The building would have had central heat and air-conditioning.
Muscatello envisioned a facility where dogs that are lodged would feel at home and where rescue animals could be prepared for forever homes. Muscatello has operated a boarding and grooming facility in Latham for 20 years and said she has had no complaints from any of the adjoining businesses regarding noise or odor. She wanted to offer her neighbors a similar environment. Her neighbors wanted none of it. She was finally issued a permit for the building, with the stipulation no dogs would be allowed outside at any time.
Instead, Muscatello abandoned the idea of a kennel on her own property and went through the process again for the property on Route 67.
Jones Property
Attorney George Holbrook appeared before the Board once again regarding a boundary change on property belonging to Mary Jones on South Street in Hoosick. He came with  photos and a map of the property. The Board approved the simple subdivision.