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Home My WebLink About301 VA 26 BCC Staff Report Complete 301 VA 25 BCC 1 LINCOLN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STAFF REPORT VARIANCE PERMIT APPLICATION HEARING TIME AND DATE: March 4, 2026 @ 10 A.M., HEARING LOCATIONS: LINCOLN COUNTY COURTHOUSE, KEMMERER, WYOMING & VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE AT AFTON BRANCH OFFICE FILE # 301 VA 26 APPLICANT: Helen Kay dba I Wish LLC. COMMUNITY PLAN AREA: Etna ZONING: Rural PIN: 3619-262-00-203 PLANNER: Ken Kuluski ______________________________________________________________________________ PROPOSAL: The applicant requests a variance to allow the operation of a dog boarding and grooming service out of the applicants’ residence. LOCATION: Approximately 5.5 miles south of the Town of Alpine. Located in Township 36 N Range 119 W Section 26 _______________________________________________________________________________ ATTACH 1. Applicants’ Statement 2. Site Plan 3. Vicinity Map 4. Supporting Documents 5. Public Comment _______________________________________________________________________________ PLANNING STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Planning Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners APPROVE File # 301 VA 26, with: ● Findings of APPROVAL A. FINDINGS OF APPROVAL: A. The requested variance demonstrates that the nonconforming use existed for a period greater than five (5) years and Lincoln County did not take steps toward enforcement. 301 VA 25 BCC 2 BACKGROUND: I Wish, LLC was formed on December 28, 2018, with the Wyoming Secretary of State. Since its formation, the business has continuously operated at 125 Roan Way, Etna, Wyoming. At its inception, I Wish, LLC provided dog boarding and grooming services. The business is owned and operated by Helen J. Kay, a former deputy sheriff with the Teton County Sheriff’s Office. The business is located within the Nordic Ranches Subdivision and has operated at the same address since 2018. 1 MEMORANDUM To: Ken Kuluski, Director, Lincoln County Planning and Zoning Department From: Helen Kay, Owner/Operator, I Wish, LLC Date: February 4, 2026 Re: Variance Application — 125 Roan Way, Etna, Wyoming I. Background and Formation I Wish, LLC was formed on December 28, 2018, with the Wyoming Secretary of State. Since its formation, the business has continuously operated at 125 Roan Way, Etna, Wyoming. At its inception, I Wish, LLC provided dog boarding and grooming services. The business is owned and operated by Helen J. Kay, a former deputy sheriff with the Teton County Sheriff’s Office. The business is located within the Nordic Ranches Subdivision and has operated at the same address since 2018. II. Zoning Due Diligence and Governmental Assurances Prior to commencing operations, I undertook due diligence to confirm compliance with all applicable zoning requirements. I communicated directly with representatives of the Nordic Ranches Subdivision, with Lincoln County Planning and Zoning staff and the State of Wyoming. Through these discussions, I was advised that: • My proposed home-based use—dog boarding and grooming—was permitted under the applicable zoning regulations; • No special-use permit was required; • No business or kennel license was required for the described scope of operations; and • The planned activities were compatible with residential zoning. Relying on these representations, I proceeded in good faith and have maintained the same scale and character of operations since 2018. 2 III. Nature of the Business A. Primary Service Dog boarding and grooming was historically the principal business activity and continues to occur on a limited scale. B. Incidental Service Dog boarding occurs on a small, residential scale. It is not advertised as a standalone kennel operation, nor is it conducted at volumes comparable to any commercial boarding facility. All boarding activities are conducted inside the residence. IV. Physical Use of the Property • All activities occur inside the residence. • A single room on the lower level is used as an indoor bathing and grooming area. • No exterior structures, kennels, or outbuildings are used for boarding or grooming. • No structural alterations inconsistent with residential use have been made. V. Operational Details (Requested Information) 1. Hours of Operation • Client drop-off and pick-up occur by appointment only, generally between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. • There is no walk-in, after-hours, or late-night commercial traffic. 2. Number of Dogs • Grooming dogs are present for short durations and typically remain only a few hours. • Boarding dogs are limited in number and comparable to what a household might temporarily host for friends or family. • There is no mass-boarding, rotation, or kennel-style use. 3. Animal Care Standards Housing • All dogs are housed inside the residence. • Dogs sleep indoors in a clean, temperature-controlled environment; no cages or outdoor runs are used. 3 Food and Water • Dogs are fed in accordance with owner instructions. • Fresh water is available at all times. Exercise and Care • Dogs are exercised outdoors within fenced and controlled areas or on leash. • No pets are allowed off-leash beyond property boundaries. • Noise, sanitation, and animal behavior are actively managed. • There are no outdoor barking enclosures or prolonged exterior confinement. 4. Parking, Ingress, and Egress • Client vehicles use the existing 20 foot wide residential driveway. • There is professional signage on the front gate of the property which was approved by Tanya DeJournett, Nordic Ranches Water, LLC • Traffic generation remains consistent with typical residential use. • Ingress and egress occur via existing subdivision roadways. 5. Proof of Continuous Operation • The business has continuously operated at this address since 2018. • The nature and scale of operations have remained materially the same and consistent with the assurances received from county officials at the time of formation. • Documentation reflecting continuous operation from 2018–2025 has been provided to the Planning Department previously (corporate filings and annual reports). VI. Operations, Traffic, Safety, and Compliance Client activity remains low-intensity and fully compatible with residential surroundings. On average, approximately three vehicles per day arrive for brief drop-off or pick-up. About 97% of these interactions last approximately five minutes, usually at the property gate. Clients do not enter the residence except for occasional first-time introductions. Animal management is controlled, safe, and respectful of the neighborhood: • No dogs are permitted off-leash outside the property. • The property is monitored by 24/7 closed-circuit cameras. 4 • All clients are instructed to follow subdivision-appropriate vehicle speeds and traffic safety. • Signage and fencing were installed only after obtaining subdivision approval. • The State of Wyoming has confirmed applicable licensing compliance for the business. Seasonal demand sometimes increases slightly during holidays, but these fluctuations are modest and episodic. VII. Summary I Wish, LLC has operated for more than seven years as a small-scale, home-based business consistent with residential use. The business: • Uses no exterior structures; • Generates only minimal traffic; • Creates no unusual noise, odor, or sanitation issues; • Has maintained the same scope since 2018; • Relied in good faith on county and subdivision assurances regarding compliance; • Continues to maintain operations in a manner respectful of neighbors and the integrity of the subdivision; and • Is owner run and operated without any employees. For these reasons, I respectfully request approval of the variance application. £¤89 19 30 31 23 2422 27 36 25 35 26 34 06020301 36N 119W 36N 118W 35N 118W35N 119W ³±421 Lariat DriveRoan WayPalomino Drive CHRIST OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH THOMPSON, PAMELA M JENSEN, STEPHEN E & KATHLEEN B TRUSTEES CROOK, SPENCER C TRUSTEE AGUIRRE, ANABEL P & MACLOVIO ABANUELOS TRUSTEES HABERBERGER,TIMOTHY W & CYNTHIA L TRUSTEES HABERBERGER,TIMOTHY W & CYNTHIA L TRUSTEES SHARPE,AUSTIN W & ASPEN M PROCTOR, KELCEY L& BRIANE E PANSKY DAILING, ERIC C & KRISTINE B FARRINGTON, PHILIP G &MARGARET CGALLENI, ROBERT S & CARA L TRUSTEES BROWN, DOUGLAS & SHELLY HABERBERGER, TIMOTHY W &CYNTHIA L TRUSTEES DIVAN, RANDY J & MARY R KAY, MARTIN P & HELEN J NAYLOR, RICHARD R & SHERRIE L HABERBERGER, TIMOTHY W & CYNTHIA L TRUSTEES NELSON, GREG D & BRITNEE A RIDENOUR, DON &ANTHYNEA HABERBERGER, TIMOTHY W & CYNTHIA L TRUSTEES DOYLE, BRIAN &JACCI HANSEN, JOE S & DEBORAH L LESLIE, DALEE & ESTHER E TRUSTEES BYRD, JOSEPH T & CARLY A CLEAN SOLUTIONSERVICES LLC ALPINE FIRE DISTRICT MCKENZIE,AUSTIN L & ALANNA E ALPINE FIRE DISTRICT Microsoft, Vantor Variance Application Roads Road_Type US Highways WY Highways Projects Township & Range Sections Municipalities Public Noticing File No 301 VA 26 The Dog House Martin P. & Helen J. Kay Prepared using available data by Katie Gipson on 12 February 2026. Map is for informational purposes only and in no way represents an official survey of land.