Commercial Kennel at 6270 Davis Road

Joined his wife at the table identifying their home as 'Ground Zero, right next door' to the proposed kennel.

Qualified as an expert appraiser for the opposition; testified a home adjacent to a Howard County kennel sold for about 10% below adjusted market value, concluding the kennel would depress the neighboring Wilburn property's value.

Lives 356 feet from the proposed kennel and opposes the variances, citing barking noise day and night, waste and odor, increased traffic past school bus stops, and saying his family is considering moving.

A maritime pilot who needs uninterrupted daytime sleep for safety-critical harbor work; opposes the kennel over noise disrupting his rest, traffic near the church homeschool co-op, well water strain, and the 16 requested variances.

Built her Davis Road home three years ago and opposes the kennel over noise, one-lane-road traffic hazards, waste and odor, well water use she estimates could top 2,000 gallons a day, and property values.

Administrative chairman of Mount Olive United Methodist Church; testified the added traffic endangers children at the bus stop and families using the church driveway, and that barking is incompatible with the adjacent cemetery.

The closest neighbor, with her house roughly 100-120 feet from the property line; testified the kennel would sit at her back door, destroy three-season deck use, clog her shared driveway, and jeopardize her plans to sell her home of 24 years.

A 57-year AKC dog breeder, trainer, and exhibitor; argued the use contradicts the Conservation District's purpose, cited inadequate staffing ratios, escape risk, dangerous roads, and well-water pollution, and asked the board to deny entirely.

Focuses on safety: three school bus stops on Davis Road with children walking in the road, buses already barred from the road as unsafe, a recent near-miss at the 90-degree entrance turn, and groundwater fragility during a multi-year drought.

A retired wireless communications executive about a mile from the site; argued the low ambient noise floor means barking from 40-90 dogs outside will carry for miles, cited the dangerous Gillis Falls/Davis intersection, and urged denial without conditions.

Speaking for herself and husband Steven; their home is only 203 feet from the kennel though no variance was requested for them. She noted multiple other suitable large properties for sale and eight other kennels nearby, and said the trees planted won't screen a building from their hilltop house.

A Mount Airy attorney who has owned property on Davis Road for 23 years; measured the road himself, described near-impossible turns at the entrance, and delivered a closing arguing the traffic and appraisal experts' testimony missed the mark and the project is 'a bad idea in a horrible location.'

A local real estate broker who lives in the area; testified from professional experience that noise, odor, and traffic near a commercial boarding facility mean fewer buyers, longer marketing times, and weaker resale positions for surrounding homes.