Salisbury Township officials approved a kennel breeding Dobermans and Rottweilers on the same farm as an Amish schoolhouse.

At its May 24 meeting, the township's zoning hearing board considered John J. King's plan to operate the kennel on a dairy farm at 448 Jacobs Road, Narvon.

Chairman Larry Martin recused himself from the case because, he said, he lives adjacent to the property.

Martin questioned King from the audience, expressing concern for the schoolchildren. Martin said he did not object to the kennel, but asked if King had taken "extra provisions … so the dogs couldn't attack the children" if they escaped.

King said his dogs are safely contained by chain-link fencing. He acknowledged the animals "could dig under the fence, I guess," but he has had no such problems.

Zoning officer Robert Mohn said the kennel has been operating with a state-issued license but without township permission because "the (state) Department of Agriculture failed to notify the applicant that he needed township approval."

King said he has 19 dogs and holds a CK3 license, allowing up to 150. The board approved a special exception allowing the business to continue.

In the very next case, board member Gordon Hoover recused himself as an adjacent landowner to Benuel K. and Leah King Smucker. The couple sought and received a special exception and a variance allowing them to subdivide their property at 160 Cambridge Road. The subdivision will result in a farm lot smaller than allowed by the zoning ordinance.

Cambridge Road splits the land. Surveyor Roger Fry testified that dividing the property logically leaves "just over 24 acres" of the original farm. The ordinance specifies a minimum of 25 acres for a farm. To comply, Fry said, would mean "coming across the road and including a little piece. … It wouldn't make sense."

Mohn called the proposal "good planning." The board concurred.

In the evening's other cases, the board approved:

• A special exception allowing Sylvan F. Stoltzfus to move Quarry Hole Woodworks, which makes wishing wells and other ornaments, from Wanner Road to operate it as a rural occupation at 314 Spring Garden Road, Kinzers. The property is zoned agricultural.

• A dimensional variance allowing David B. Fisher, executor for the estate of Annie F. Fisher, to subdivide a triangular tract at 5399 Strasburg Road.

The plan creates two lots, both with an existing residence. One lot is 1.6 acres and the other is just under half an acre. The smaller lot does not meet width requirements.

Mohn pointed out that with two homes in the R-1 residential district, the property already is nonconforming and the subdivision is nearer "the intent of the ordinance."

• Gideon A. Stoltzfus' request for a special exception to operate a concession business as a home occupation at 280 White Horse Road, Gap. Stoltzfus said he intends to use milk from his father's dairy across the road to make ice cream, which he will sell from a trailer at "shows and fairs."

The three-quarter-acre property is zoned agricultural.

• A special exception allowing Darnel Weaver's auto body repair business at 963 Narvon Road, Narvon.

Hoover questioned placing such a shop "in the middle of a neighborhood." But Anna Martin, Weaver's nearest neighbor, convinced Hoover, testifying that Weaver is "respectful, considerate … a good neighbor. I have no doubt he'll do what he says. I'd like to see him be able to do this."

Said Hoover, "That sealed the deal for me. He meets all the criteria."