The Planning and Zoning Commission has voted to recommend the Town Council approve a special use permit allowing Fearless Kitty Cat Rescue to operate a kennel on Avenue of the Fountains.

Fearless Kitty, a no-kill cat and kitten rescue organization, is proposing to relocate to the former Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage offices on the Avenue of the Fountains.

The commission voted unanimously, 5-0, to forward a recommendation for approval. Commissioners Jeremy Strohan and Susan Dempster were absent.

The proposed new location for the Kitty Rescue is within a C-2 zoning district. Town Interim Development Services Director Bob Rodgers explains that the Zoning Ordinance classifies Fearless Kitty Rescue as a kennel and therefore needs the special use permit to operate in the C-2 zoning district.

Kristen Skivington, a volunteer with the rescue group, told the commission that while she understands the legal terminology for the ordinance, she believes “kennel” is a misnomer for how they operate.

Skivington said the cats would not be placed in cages, but would be free to roam within assigned rooms. She noted that they will have a couple of cages that will be used for new arrivals to allow them to acclimate to the shelter.

“Sometimes we will find that a kitty will need a ‘time out’ and the cages will be used for that also,” Skivington said.

Skivington also explained to the commissioners how they will control potential odors from litter. She said they schedule dumpster pick-ups twice a week and the litter is triple bagged before being placed in the dumpster.

She also said that anyone visiting the rescue center will not notice any odor at all.

In response to a question from a resident, Skivington said there would be people at the center on a daily basis from around 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The facility is not usually staffed overnight. Public hours for those seeking to adopt are expected to be set from Thursday through Sunday from about 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m.

Although it was not part of the application, rescue volunteer Kate Cook explained a feral cat program the rescue group participates in. The program basically captures the feral cats, has them spayed or neutered and then returns them to the area where they were found.

The new site is approximately 5,200 square feet and is planned to include non-critical medical services such as vaccinations, a volunteer information area, office and small conference room.

Fearless Kitty Rescue has been in Fountain Hills since 2012 and serves not only Fountain Hills, but the greater Phoenix area as well and accepts rescues from no-kill shelters statewide.

The Town Council has a public hearing scheduled for its regular session on Thursday, Sept. 1, at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at Town Hall. The Council will consider granting the permit at that meeting.

If the special use permit is approved, the organization plans to renovate the building’s interior with Dec. 1 as a targeted opening date.

Fearless Kitty Cat Rescue operates with about 70 volunteers and is dedicated to finding homes for abandoned and homeless cats of all ages and educating the public about responsible pet ownership.

Commission members generally had praise for the work being done by the organization.