June 17, 2025
Local News

B&C Kennels owners withdraw request for amendment

By STEPHANIE MARKHAM

Christie Hardt, co-owner of B & C Kennels with her husband, Robert DeCosta, of 6367 E.Clare Road in Mayfield Township, watches the DeKalb County Board meeting June 21 inside the Gathertorium at the DeKalb County Legislative Center in Sycamore. A vote on the kennel's special use permit was delayed and sent back to the committee. (Matthew Apgar)

The owners of B&C Kennels in Clare have withdrawn a request for a special-use permit amendment to import puppies and allow more dogs and puppies on site, DeKalb County officials said Monday.

Derek Hiland, DeKalb County Community Development Director, said he received an email from owners Christie Hardt and Robert DeCosta on Friday that said they were withdrawing their request.

He said some gray area still exists over whether their 2010 special-use permit was violated, which prompted the amendment request in the first place.

An August 2016 DeKalb County Health Department inspection found B&C Kennels had been importing puppies, mainly from a breeding facility in Tennessee, and kept more than 40 animals on site at a time.

When the special-use permit was approved in 2010, the hearing officer’s finding of fact included Hardt’s testimony that she did not intend to keep more than 40 dogs and puppies on site at at time, Hiland said.

Hiland said neither a 40-animal limit nor a ban on importing animals were explicitly included as terms in the 2010 ordinance.

The interpretation of the ordinance was a point of debate during the Planning and Zoning Committee meeting in May, which resulted in a 4-3 vote against allowing the additional capacity and importation.

This suggestion went against a hearing officer’s recommendation to allow up to 100 dogs and puppies on site at a time, among other conditions.

However, the County Board in June sent the suggestion back to committee based on advisement from the State's Attorney's Office that the committee's amendment was applied to the 2010 ordinance instead of the 2017 ordinance.

The amendment is not on the agenda for Wednesday's Planning and Zoning Committee meeting because the owners withdrew their request, Hiland said.

Hiland said the next step will be for county officials to review the 2010 ordinance with the State’s Attorney’s Office and determine what is and is not permitted, based on the ordinance and county code.

He said Hardt and DeCosta would have to start from square one if they decide to continue pursuing an amendment.

The Planning and Zoning Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room East of the DeKalb County Administration Building, 110 E. State St. in Sycamore.

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