Saturday, May 02, 2009

Dog park status update

On April 29, the Council Planning Committee discussed the proposed dog park. Here are the minutes of the meeting:

Mr. Milone reported that engineering staff met with a group supporting the dog park. IWW approval is not required; and PZC approval may be required depending on what happens with the parking lot. The park must go to DEP in order to permit this use; DEP needs to know particulars; but, the group has not decided on size of the park, fencing, layout, etc. Until this is completed, the group cannot go to DEP.

Regarding permeation of the membrane by putting in the fence posts, Mr. Milone said the drawings show blocking on the top. There is clay on top, and fencing will have to be done differently. It was stated by Mr. Milone that this dog park should start small and then grow bigger. It is about 5 acres of land, very large, and this issue must be discussed with the group. For the park, the group will have to build off the existing parking lot, and there is also a question on whether DEP will permit crushed stone or want asphalt parking.

Mr. Sima recommended Washington Concrete Products, which makes a product for depth retention basis, be looked into for the dog park fence.

This matter will be discussed further with the group and the committee.


Tim White

10 comments:

Robert DeVylder Jr. said...

Where are they looking to put this park?

tim white said...

The recently capped old landfill... right behind Artsplace (the VFW bldg).

Gil Linder said...

Why is this proposal of a dog park moving forward at this time of budget crisis?

Why are we using town engineering resources for a project that has questionable value?

I am dead-set against this park to be created for the sole purpose of dogs "socializing" and defecating at will. I don't care if the capital costs of fencing etc are to be bourn by the dog owners.

What will be the impact on the town? Who will maintain the parking lot? Who will pay for plowing snow? Will there be lighting involved? Will the park require water or sidewalks? Who will pay for trash removal? Will it be necessary to dispose of doggy defecations and, if so ,who will do it? And lastly, is it appropriate to be placed next to Artsplace?

And one more thing-- how many people will use it? I can't picture someone putting a dog in his car and driving 4-5 miles or more to a park, just so it can "socialize" and/or do you know what. Anybody agree or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Anonymous said...

Some questions:

what if we don't like the way the dog park is operated? Can the town close it down.

Does the town have any liability if someone falls, is bitten? A few years ago a dog owner slipped on droolor something and fell while attending a dog obedience class. She sued the town.

Who is responsible for the maintenance?

Will it cost the town anything?

Will this be restricted to private owners and their dogs, as opposed to people using it for some type of dog business?

Will there be a closed season.

Who will build and maintain the parking lot?

Will it operate from sun up to sun down?

There was talk that the geese droppings created an unsanitary condition at Mixville. Won't this also be the case?

Will barking disturb any residents?

Why doesn't planning and zoning make it a requirement that developers set aside land for these kinds of activities?

Anonymous said...

May 04, 2009 8:28 PM

Really? please tell us you didnt put any thought into your questions.

"Some questions:

"what if we don't like the way the dog park is operated? Can the town close it down."
Never... we will be stuck with it forever like the town pool. Second thought, the dogs could use a pool of their own. And a linear trail too!

"Does the town have any liability if someone falls, is bitten? A few years ago a dog owner slipped on droolor something and fell while attending a dog obedience class. She sued the town."
I think this is the only logical question you asked. The park would be covered like any other town land I assume.

"Who is responsible for the maintenance?"
Park and Rec since there is a parking lot and the dogs get some recreation

"Will it cost the town anything?"
Nope.. covered under the Active Animals Roam & Propriate act of 1984. (AARP)

"Will this be restricted to private owners and their dogs, as opposed to people using it for some type of dog business?"
No, all dog owners will have to be outed.. no closet dog owners here. Publicly held dogs can be walked on Wednesdays. Maybe we can get a doggy backery to set up a vendor cart.

"Will there be a closed season."
No.. dogs crap all year but will offer "feline fridays" "weasel wednesdays" and "tortise tuesdays"

"Who will build and maintain the parking lot?"
I would venture a guess that the complex directly in front of the doggy park could supply some labor and snow plowing. I heard they have some machinery and expertise.

"Will it operate from sun up to sun down?"
The park will be open 24 hours/day but to prevent everyone in town playing with their dogs at the same time, starting at 1:00am, everyone whose dogs name starts with "A" gets 1 hour. 2:00am - 3:00am is "B" and so on. I am changing my dogs name to either King (11am), Larry (noon), or Petey (4 pm)

"There was talk that the geese droppings created an unsanitary condition at Mixville. Won't this also be the case?"
Only if you are walking your geese. otherwise the dogs should scare away the geese.

"Will barking disturb any residents?"
All I want to know is, do you know where the old town landfill is located?

"Why doesn't planning and zoning make it a requirement that developers set aside land for these kinds of activities?"
They should do it. They could call it open space and set a requirement, like 5-10% of all developments be set aside. You should suggest this to the town.

Anonymous said...

Dog Parks 101
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_park

Bill said...

If the Town is going to have a dog park then we should name it after Hillary the "*****" Clinton.

Secondly, if the dog park is THE major concern for residents, we as a nation and as a society have greater issues to deal with.

Anonymous said...

May 04, 2009 8:28 PM

From your answers, one can see that you need some serious help.

Anonymous said...

We need horse trails. Many people living on 1/4 acre lots dont have any place to ride their horses. I have the feeling that our town government discriminates against horses.

tim white said...

Actually, we already have horse trails on the DeDominicus property.

But I don't think we have a pool for horses that want to go swimming. We should build a pool for swimming horses.