Barksville Inn site plan under community questions

The Barksville Inn is in the middle of seeking approval from the Town of Lansing Planning Board for a site plan at 89 Goodman Rd., but Kevin Kirby’s dog-sitting business is facing questions from his concerned neighbors.

The application with the planning board, which notes that Kirby will have an open-air dog-sitting business in his backyard, was last reviewed at the planning board meeting at the end of April. The area will host up to five small dogs, nonaggressive breeds under 50 pounds each, Kirby said at the meeting. This also includes his two dogs, who fit the same criteria. 

“I am building my home. I am not proposing a kennel. I am building a house, and I want to have a few dogs come over and stay and hang out with my dogs,” he said. “It keeps me busy and supplements my income.”

Some of the concerns raised by board members and the public participating in the site plan public comment period were the hours of operation and the noise caused by dog barking.

“We always make sure there is someone there so that the dogs are never alone,” Kirby said. “We are cage free, and we have a lot of things to do to reduce their anxiety. Usually the barking is based on anxiety, so not having cages or kennels, and having smaller, nonaggressive dogs can help.”

Kirby noted the frequent clientele and the number of returning customers can also help ease some of that anxiety.

“It helps keep the anxiety and barking down. The dogs may be outside during the day, but they are in by 10 p.m. and they stay inside all night,” Kirby said. “They come out at 8:30 to 9 a.m. Usually by night they are ready to sleep.”

Lynne Sheldon, a resident of 83 Goodman Rd. and a neighbor of the proposed dog-sitting space, said the project borders her property on three areas.

“The three neighboring properties nearby work evenings and sleep during the day,” she said. “We all will certainly be negatively impacted by dogs barking.”

Sheldon noted that the residents also have private wells, as opposed to being hooked up to the town’s water district. She noted her fear that dog excrement and urine could contaminate the water.

“It poses a threat to the health of our water supply and the land around it,” she said.

Planning Board Chair Al Fiorelle asked Kirby how Barksville planned to address dog waste.

“We follow Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. We use biodegradable, plant-based bags, and we pick up after them every other day and dispose of them in the trash,” Kirby responded.

Frank Phillips, a resident of 141 Goodman Rd. and a neighbor of Barksville, noted that his main concern was also the noise levels that could potentially come from hosting the dogs at the nearby home.

Lisa Schultz, another nearby resident, said increased traffic in their neighborhood is concerning.

“People already go fast in that area,” Schultz said.

Fiorelle recommended that Kirby install a solid vinyl or wood fence that is 6 feet tall and is situated on the north and east sides of the property to reduce the noise.

Larry Sharpstein, a board member, spoke in defense of the project.

“We have a precedent in the B1 district with residential areas tied around it. We had a boarding kennel that went through site plan review,” Sharpstein said. “They put in a vinyl fence to reduce the noise. We never received any complaints when they were in business, and that probably worked pretty well.”

Sharpstein noted that things could change down the road, based on how the project works out in the community.

Fewer than four members of the planning board will visit the proposed site for further inspection, board members said.

“Some of us will go out and do a walk at the site to get a better perspective on how it is set up,” Fiorelle said. “The board would like to see at least at a minimum on the north and east side a solid fence. Whether it also goes on the west and south will be based on our walkthrough.”

The application for the Barksville Inn was tabled until an upcoming meeting. The item could be discussed at the meeting set for the end of May.

A link to a PDF site plan of the inn can be found here.

Lansing at Large appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com. Contact Eddie Velazquez at edvel37@gmail.com or on Twitter @ezvelazquez.

In brief:

The American Red Cross is looking for residents who can donate blood to the Lansing Community Blood Drive.

The event is sponsored by the Lansing United Methodist Church and will take place at the Main Hall at 32 Brickyard Rd. on May 26. The American Red Cross will get the event underway at 10 a.m., and the event will run until 3 p.m.

Rev Ezra and Monallo Live at Salt Point

Join songwriters Rev Ezra and Monallo for a night of live music on May 31. These two will be performing in a Nashville-style format as they share their songs and stories! Come on out for a cold craft beer and hang out with these up and comers. To learn more about the artists visit www.revezra.com or www.monallomusic.com.

The Lansing Seniors will hold it’s monthly lunch and meeting at the Lansing Community Center, being held on Wednesday May 10th beginning at 12:00 Noon at 29 Auburn Road