St. Cloud City Council To Review CUP For Dog Training Facility

ST. CLOUD -- A St. Cloud couple's plans for opening a dog training facility is in jeopardy after the city council decided to look the issue.

The Zoning Board of Appeals recently granted Daniel Hughes and his wife a conditional use permit to run a commercial dog training facility at their home along County Road 136 near St. Augusta. They train the animals to be detection dogs for police and other security operations.

But, on a 4-to-3 vote, the council chose to look at the issue after residents spoke up during the public comment period Monday night.

Community Development Director Matt Glaesman says it is unusual for a city council to overturn a ZBA decision but he says they have the authority.

The council will now hear the entire public record at their February 14th meeting, but there will be no public discussion.  Glaesman says the council can decide to do nothing, schedule a public hearing or overturn the CUP.