Former schoolhouse goes to the dogs

The old schoolhouse in the Town of Grafton will soon be occupied by a dog day-care facility.

The Town of Grafton Plan Commission on Wednesday, Oct. 2, approved a conditional-use permit for the business at 1206 Lakefield Rd. 

The 1846 schoolhouse has been vacant since 2013, when the previous occupant, Chiselled Grape Winery, moved to Cedarburg. The building was purchased by Bill Schaut, who also owns the business.

The new business is allowed to have up to 20 dogs at a time for day care and extended stay. The business is also permitted to sell dog-related items.

During the commission’s  August meeting, a number of residents opposed initial plans calling for the business to have as many as 30 dogs and training services. The residents’ concerns included noise with the number of pets and the safety of children living near the area. 

Since the August meeting, Schaut revised the plans to house fewer dogs and install a six-foot-tall fence. 

Hours of operation for the business include pick up and drop off of dogs from  6 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing dogs to be outside between 6:30 a.m. and 9 p.m., and retail hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Schaut said there will be limited business operations for one to two years while he renovates the building.