Lewes neighbors oppose dog-grooming business

Sarah Prieto has been making pooches look pretty for 16 years. 

She ran a dog grooming business in Washington, D.C., before she and her husband, Stephen Matthews, moved to Lewes full time in July.

“I’ve been coming here to visit since Lloyd’s was the IGA,” Prieto said.

The couple is now trying to get the city to change its zoning code to allow dog grooming as a home-based business.

“There are 700 dogs in the city limits and not many groomers,” Prieto said. “We tried getting a brick-and-mortar, but the prices are way too high.”

The roadblock the couple faces is as much about where they live as it is the work Prieto does. 

Prieto and Matthews live at 405 Savannah Road, a middle unit in a line of four historic row houses built in 1896 across from Beebe Healthcare.

Their unit is the only one with a walkout basement, which they plan to use for the salon.

It is zoned limited commercial historic. They can operate a business there, but dog grooming is not on the city’s list of approved home-based businesses.

Neighbors who live in the adjoining row homes have addressed council about concerns over noise, odor, dog waste, lack of parking and a possible negative impact on property values.

Dr. Patricia Lazik, who is a veterinarian, lives at 401 Savannah Road. She said she knows the issues that can arise when working with animals.

“How will the proposed business deal with dog waste? This happens with dogs. I deal with it every day in my business, disposal of waste, eliminating odors, hair and nails clogging sinks,” Lazik said.

The neighbors at 403 and 405, who share walls with Prieto and Matthews, have also expressed their opposition. The unit at 403 Savannah Road is now on the market.

Prieto, who is a certified dog groomer, said she and her husband have taken steps to address all of those issues. Those include: 

• No kennels, cages or boarding

• Separate entrance into her basement salon with an outdoor waiting area

• Recent renovations included noise reduction in the walls.

Matthews, who is an Air Force veteran, also works from home doing cybersecurity. 

“I’ll be the first one to say something if she’s being too loud,” Matthews said.

Prieto admits parking is tight for them and the other homeowners, let alone customers. But she points to a designed 15-minute spot at the corner of E. Fourth Street that could be used for drop-off and pickup. She said her mother lives two doors away and has offered her driveway for customers who might need a longer stay.

But, Prieto said she hopes most of her customers will walk to take advantage of her services and will not need to find a space.

“People keep hearing grooming salon and they think Petco. It’s not like that. It’s a handful of dogs a day, one at a time,” Matthews said.

Prieto said she has a petition with 134 signatures from Lewes residents supporting her proposed business.

She also points out that all of their neighbors own dogs. Prieto and Matthews have cats.

The couple began navigating the process for a zoning change after the city denied them a business license.

Prieto then addressed mayor and city council June 10 and June 27. Neighbors came to the July 8 meeting to express their objections.

Prieto also addressed the Lewes Planning Commission July 17.

Mayor and city council have sent the dog grooming request to the planning commission, looking for members to provide a recommendation not only on dog grooming, but also possibly to reevaluate the entire list of approved home-based businesses.

The commission is expected to have the issue on the agenda for its Wednesday, Aug. 21 meeting. A meeting link can be found at lewes.civicweb.net.

Prieto and Matthews said they just want to be good neighbors and give back to the community.

“I want to be open one day a month just for rescues to get free dog grooming. I want to give back to the Lewes dog park and maybe donate to the fire department,” Prieto said.