LANDRUM –Landrum Council members listened to a proposal by Stone Soup restaurant owner Suzanne Strickland for a new dog park during city council’s Aug. 9 monthly meeting. 

Strickland met with city council during council’s work session to discuss what she believes to be a great community benefit to Landrum, a dog park on her property behind her restaurant. She presented a written proposal to each member of city council and Mayor Robert Briggs during their work session.

“The dog park would add to the quality of life for residents, visitors and their pets,” Strickland wrote in her proposal to city council members on July 30. “No other cities or towns in the area offer this and it would be a big draw to animal lovers.”

The dog park would be approximately 20,000 square feet, or one-half acre, on her property behind Stone Soup restaurant. Using a lease agreement for $1 a year, Strickland proposed that the city pay to install fencing to mark the boundary of the park.

She said she owns the house next to the restaurant and the park would be a substantial size for dogs to run around. A benefit to the city having the park would be an increase in the hospitality tax from the restaurant.

“The proposed site would offer a large, fenced in area for the dogs to play in as well as plenty of shade and places for their owners to sit and watch,” Strickland explained. “It’s at my restaurant in the back. I have two acres between the two lots and I’ve been mainly clearing all the brush out and taking care of it to see what it would look like.”

Strickland explained to city council members during their work session she has received 300 signatures and letters in the last 10 days from the Columbus, Landrum and Tryon area for the approval of the project. She referenced dog parks in Hendersonville and Spartanburg in her description of the proposed park, saying people congregate in these social environments.

“I think the community is really going to benefit from this park,” Strickland said. “This being a dog friendly area, I’d love to have a dog park available to play with my dog and socialize with other residents. A lot of people feel that it would bring the community together because people love to socialize with their dogs and we’re a very dog friendly community.”

The Landrum City Council chamber was filled with people either for or against the proposed dog park. Spartanburg attorney Andrew Poliakoff came to the council meeting to ask the City of Landrum to either table or deny the proposal until further research could be done.

“Not every change is for the better, and it’s your job to ask yourselves what will improve the town,” Poliakoff said to city council members. “You’re going to put this park in the middle of a residential area.”

The property, according to Poliakoff, had been rezoned a few years ago as C-2 commercial property, with conditional uses such as a clause that forbade livestock and cattle on the property. According to Caitlin Cothran, now former Landrum city administrator, said the property was rezoned in 2007 as a commercial property.

“A dog park, though not livestock or cattle, is kind of the same thing,” Poliakoff explained. “Dog parks are typically within a city and maintained by the city. Do you want to take on that responsibility?”

Noise concerns, cleaning up after the dogs, and making sure each dog is properly vaccinated were also points made by Poliakoff. The attorney also cited groundwater pollution in his remarks to city council members.

“Are these dogs going to have rabies shots and their vaccinations? How many dogs can be allowed in at one time and will they be on or off the leash?” Poliakoff asked. “If the owner goes to eat at the restaurant, who is going to watch after the dog outside?”

Poliakoff also asked about who will be responsible for cleaning up after the dogs, whether it be the owners or the city. The spaying and neutering of each dog welcomed to the park was also an issue Poliakoff raised.

“Will there be an added expense for the city to go out and clean up the park? Who’s going to require picking up and cleaning the park?” Poliakoff asked. “Will it be once a day, once a week or once a month? If there’s a legal mess or nuisance involved, is the city ready to take on that issue? I think rather than listening to someone who has 300 signatures on a petition and says this could be good for the town, you do further research and studies to determine if this is solid.”

Strickland stood to address city council and said most of the things brought up by Poliakoff could be taken care of if the park opens. Poliakoff asked city council members to further research the proposal before approving the decision.

“I was talking to Caitlin after the meeting and the zoning things that he quoted do not apply to the C-2 commercial property, which is what I have zoned,” Strickland said the morning after the meeting. “For instance, he was saying the ground water would be polluted by the dogs. Are you kidding me? Dog owners are very responsible people and they wouldn’t leave their dogs alone. They take the poop up. I think he’s just trying to create fear, and he’s being very misleading.”

Council members made the unanimous decision to table the motion.