Citizens to sound off on dog-training facility

Published 2:57 pm Wednesday, November 18, 2009

ISLE OF WIGHT—Residents will have a chance to voice their opinions about a proposed dog-training facility in Walters at Thursday night’s Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors meeting.

American K-9 Interdiction, LLC is requesting that the county grant a special use permit to allow for a commercial dog kennel for the training of dogs, storage of high explosives and the boarding of military and civilian trainees at the site of a former detention center on Burdette Road.

The county owns the nearly 50-acre site and Economic Development Director Lisa Perry said the county would “make a great profit” if the company buys the property. A public hearing will also be held Thursday night for the county’s plan to sell the property to the company for $200,000.

At a meeting last month, American K-9 Interdiction, LLC co-owners Nigel Rhodes and Paul Roushia met with people who live in the neighborhood who expressed concerns about noise, property values and safety.

The Isle of Wight County Planning Commission, with a 6-4 vote, recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve a special-use permit for the facility last month, with several conditions, including the construction of a sound barrier.

The public hearings are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the courthouse complex.