Politics & Government
Dog Rescue Owner Moves to Forsyth
Although Susan Fischer said she's left Cherokee County, the owner of the property on which she lived still wants the tract rezoned to agricultural. Commissioners are expected to discuss the matter today.
The woman whose dog rescue facility was at the said she has moved from her home on East Cherokee Drive.
Although Susan Fischer moved Fischer Farm Animal Shelter to Forsyth County, the is expected today to hear a rezoning request for the property on which she lived through last year. James Brock, the property owner, has applied to have the property rezoned from R-80 residential to agriculture.
The rezoning request comes after a last October issued Fischer a warning upon finding 70 dogs, 15 goats, chickens and a couple of horses on the property. When he returned five days later, he gave her a notice of violation with 30 days to come into compliance with the county’s zoning ordinance. At the end of November, he returned to the property and issued Fischer a 30-day extension because she told him she was in the process of having the property rezoned. Rather than come into compliance by last week’s hearing, Fischer moved, something Brock said he wanted done by Jan. 17.
Find out what's happening in Canton-Sixeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Vicki Taylor, the county’s zoning administrator, said the property owner thinks his property is more agricultural than residential; however, the future development map and comprehensive land use plans shows that tract as being suburban living, or residential.
At its meeting on Jan. 3, the planning commission voted to recommend denying the request. No one spoke in favor of the request but several voiced their opposition citing reasons such as the number of animals that could be kept on the property, Taylor said. Under the agricultural zoning, unlimited numbers of livestock and poultry would be allowed on the 7.25 acres. While the dogs Fischer housed wouldn’t be completely covered by the county’s agricultural zoning, Taylor said a kennel would be allowed subject to Department of Agricultural oversight and licensing.
Find out what's happening in Canton-Sixeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Now, Fischer is back to adopting out animals after her move, something she said last month would cost her thousands of dollars.
“We’re just trying to recover and recoup from the move financially,” Fischer said.
Adopters are happy, she said, because the animals are sociable and family-friendly. Anyone interested in adopting can visit Fischer’s website at http://thefischerflock.blogspot.com.
