ELY— Paige Maystadt is hoping to open a dog boarding and day care in Ely, but the city’s zoning regulations are offering a familiar roadblock.
Maystadt, who holds a degree in animal science from Iowa State, has been trying to open a dog boarding facility since 2022. She previously worked at a dog day care in Houston before moving to the area with hopes of creating her own facility.
Maystadt, who is blind, has been caught between the increased challenges of living in a more rural setting and zoning laws that have prevented her from opening a dog boarding facility in town. Maystadt said she has looked at more than 15 properties in her search, but none of them have worked out so far.
Her latest request, for a conditional use permit to allow her to use the property at 301 E. Sheridan, formerly Mike’s Drive-In Liquor, met with another denial by Ely’s zoning board earlier this month.
Boarding facilities cannot be operated in residential zones and require at least five acres of land, Maystadt said. Even in commercial zones, dog and cat boarding facilities require a conditional use permit.
Maystadt’s previous attempts to open a facility were in Morristown, where, despite the board agreeing that a dog boarding facility would benefit the area, it denied Maystadt’s proposal, saying there was not enough space on the property.
Maystadt said her ideal location is the old RV park near Ely that is currently for sale. However, with a price tag of more than $1 million, it is far out of reach.
“I could make an empire out there. And it’s right next to the college, so we could work with the vet tech students,” Maystadt said.
Soon after arriving in Ely, Maystadt appeared before the zoning board seeking a permit to run a small dog boarding operation of around five dogs out of a house. However, many of the houses on the market at the time were prohibitively expensive for her. Securing a loan has also been challenging because Small Business Administration loans require the recipient to already have a location.
“We’re looking into getting an SBA loan, but I have to have a location before I can get the SBA loan to go through,” Maystadt said.
Maystadt’s most recent proposal at 301 E. Sheridan St. was to operate a business with up to 25 kennels. The main level of the building would be used for boarding and kenneling, with the basement set up as an indoor play area. Maystadt would also use the property’s back lot as a 1,000-square-foot outdoor play area.
The proposal received several letters in opposition from neighbors, who largely cited concerns about noise, pet waste, and dog safety, given the property’s proximity to Sheridan Street.
Those same concerns were echoed by the board at the meeting and in the city’s findings of fact, which stated, “The lack of outdoor green space and close proximity to other buildings could create noise and sanitary concerns.”
One neighbor, Andria LaFollette, said rainwater runoff currently flows from the property toward her building and sometimes collects in her basement.
“My concern is when the outdoor dog area gets washed down and cleaned, or when rainwater naturally flows towards my building it will carry animal waste across the paved surface, and contaminated water will run toward or into my basement, run towards other properties, or go into nearby storm drains,” LaFollette wrote in her letter of opposition.
Other residents worried primarily about noise, especially with residential buildings nearby and Brainstorm Bakery’s outdoor music venue.
“Dogs bark. That is a given,” wrote Merdie Merrill in her letter of opposition.
Summing up the opposition to the project, Kerri Frederick wrote, “I like the idea of a doggy hotel, but I can’t imagine a worse place for it.”
One thing Maystadt, the board, and the neighbors all appeared to agree on was the benefit a dog boarding facility would have for the area. It would allow pet owners greater flexibility when visiting Ely.
Maystadt’s desire to start the business is also driven by financial pressures at home. She cares for her child and two dogs and has struggled to find employment because of her disability.
“I moved to Houston for a job I was overqualified for,” Maystadt said.
“It’s great for the town, but I also would like to have a normal life,” Maystadt added.
After the permit was denied, city council member Emily Roose offered Maystadt a list of conditions that, if met, would allow the board to reconsider the proposal. Those conditions included developing a plan for outdoor drainage, limiting the number of dogs outside at a time, and updating guidelines on dog vaccinations.
“I really liked Emily’s conditions. I think they were very reasonable. I could definitely do those,” Maystadt said.
“I just want the board to have an open mind,” Maystadt said. “The city needs it.”