Zoning changes create specific criteria for city animal control facilities

Although the Newton City Council this past week unanimously approved the zoning code changes that give greater clarity on the matter of dog pounds, it does not mean officials have made a final decision on where to place the city’s modular kennel and establish a municipal animal control facility.

The amendments to city code provide specific locational criteria when creating a dog pound operated by the city, which in this case would most likely be the police department. Newton News previously reported a minimum distance of 500 feet from homes is required in order to protect dense residential neighborhoods.

For areas where residential uses may be in close proximity to a proposed dog kennel — agriculture, light industrial or heavy industrial — the new code would require a conditional use permit be obtained, which triggers a public hearing and neighbor notifications before any action can be taken by the board of adjustment.

Any decision on the location of a municipally-owned facility would be subject to a vote by the city council during a public meeting.

When the police chief presented council members with locations to place the kennel in December 2024, many showed interest in the area near the pump station northeast of the intersection of Iowa Speedway Drive and Lincoln Street. It was estimated at the time to cost roughly $40,000-$50,000 to prepare the site.

Tyler Clement, senior director of operations for Iowa Speedway, spoke again to council members after sharing concerns about the kennel last month. In January he asked that city administration speak with him about the kennel being located near land zoned for commercial tourism. He thanked the city for following up.

“We’ve had open dialogue with city admin staff, which we appreciate very much to help you all understand what we do outside of large event weekends,” Clement said at the Feb. 17 meeting. “Over the past two weeks we took a deeper dive into our operations at the facilities and the partnerships that we hold.”

Specifically, the partnership with the state for training opportunities that take place on the Iowa Speedway property. Clement said he provided council with information about the kinds of noises created by those types of training events that had conflicts with trainings near the Animal Rescue League in Polk County.

“Again, as a facility and as part of the community, we’re here to support,” Clement said. “We understand the challenges that you all have in placing a facility like this. But we want to do our best to educate you and the admin staff to hopefully resolve conflict before we have them.”

Council member Randy Ervin stressed the action voted on by council is only affecting the actual zoning and is not action relating to the actual location of the kennel. Mayor Evelyn George affirmed this and said it is not an action that was even included on the agenda for that evening. But it will be in the near future.

Ervin did provide another kennel location to be considered by city staff, and he gave the details to Captain Chris Wing of the Newton Police Department. However, Ervin later told Newton News the location is unlikely to be considered as a major contender, but it did offer another potential option for council.

Wing noted the city has until May to move its modular kennel to its final location.

“It is timed out that if things stay on track we will be operational by May 1, barring any setbacks,” Wing said.