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Zoning board denies dog-walking permits, advances Dunkin cleanup

Zoning Board · Meeting of August 20, 2026

Auburn zoning board denies home dog-walking business, advances Dunkin brownfield cleanup. The Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-0 to deny a variance and 4-1 to deny a special permit for Tracy McDonald's dog-walking operation at 25 Inwood Road, the second rejection of the business in roughly two years; Vice Chair Michael Marin said he was "not willing to take off the table" a prior incident in which a neighbor's daughter was bitten. The board separately voted unanimously to continue Branded Realty Group II's proposed Dunkin drive-through at 481 Washington Street to September 17 after discovering the town's own agenda omitted two of three requested permits, even though a traffic engineer reported the intersection logged 37 crashes since 2021.

The board also voted 5-0 to grant an appeal overturning a cease-and-desist order against a home-based "Sniff Spot" dog-sitting business at 3 Ashworth Street, ruling the notice cited the wrong bylaw section, and unanimously amended a special permit for a planned indoor golf facility at 615 Southbridge Street to allow future ownership transfers.

In the full story:

  • Who Was There
  • Organizations And Documents Referenced
  • The complete report — 3,741 words

Source: the Zoning Board meeting of August 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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