February 6, 2021

Mallory Herrmann
Staff Reporter

The Lee’s Summit City Council has given approval to a preliminary development plan for PetSuites of America.

PetSuites Stay and Play is a national chain of pet resorts, offering boarding, grooming, training and daycare services for dogs.

Their new single-story building will be located at 250 NW McNary Court, just north of Chipman Road and on the west side of Commerce Drive. The two-tenant facility will have just over 14,000 total square feet. Its outdoor play yard will be screened from the street by a 7-foot solid vinyl fence.

Lee’s Summit Animal Hospital will occupy the building’s second space. They currently operate two locations in Lee’s Summit: Their primary location is downtown at 411 SW Market. Lee’s Summit Animal Hospital North is located about a quarter of a mile down the road from the new PetSuites, at 810 NW Commerce Drive, in the same building as Summit Pet Care.

The applicant indicated that Lee’s Summit Animal Hospital North would continue to operate out of its Summit Pet Care location.

But Linda Pulse, owner of Summit Pet Care, said during the public comments portion of the meeting that Lee’s Summit Animal Hospital has notified them that they will not be renewing their lease after nearly 30 years in that space.

The developer noted that their client is PetSuites, not the Animal Hospital, and that this change was news to them.

Councilmember Diane Forte acknowledged the free market and the city’s desire to welcome new businesses but said she wouldn’t be able to maintain a business if a competitor moved in as close as this one will be.

“I really wish this applicant would have found a better place that wasn’t right next to the place where they’re moving from, even though it’s a different business,” Forte said. She said that it would not keep her from voting in favor of the project.

Earlier in the discussion, Councilmember Bob Johnson asked whether any decibel studies had been performed. He wondered if there could be a potential increase in noise due to barking dogs. Josh Johnson, assistant director of plan services, said noise issues like that would primarily be an issue only in residential areas.

Since this development is in a commercially zoned district, no decibel study was discussed. Later, Chief of Police Travis Forbes indicated that the police department – who handles noise complaints – has not had a single noise problem with pet boarding facilities like this one.

The planning commission unanimously recommended approval of the project at their Jan. 7 meeting.

The city council also voted unanimously to approve the PDP. Councilmember Trish Carlyle was absent from their Feb. 2 meeting, which took place via teleconference.