The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted in favor of “Option C” for a new animal shelter in the county.
Following an RFP process, the county staff had identified four options – Options A through D – as contenders for the new animal shelter.
Last year, the board voted to allocate funds for the design piece of the shelter, as the shelter is several decades old and is not currently in compliance with county standards.
Prior to the public hearing, Chairman Corey Stewart shared the results of a poll his office conducted on the animal shelter.
“We had a total of 778 respond to the question about the animal shelter, and Option D came down with 10%…Option A had 6%…Option B had 4%…and Option C had 80%,” said Stewart.
Stewart stated he was also provided with a petition from 400 residents, requesting that the county select Option C.
Here are the details of Option C from the county:
Option C would build a new 28,105-square-foot shelter to replace the old shelter and all of the out buildings. The new shelter would have 106 cat kennels and 56 dog kennels. The building would include a welcoming adoption lobby and provide complete space for veterinarian and office space, as well as dedicated space for animal isolation, quarantine and recovery. The building would also include a multi-purpose room. The new construction would cost $14 million. Option C would meet all state and local requirements.
Here were the other proposed options from the county:
Option A, the least expensive, would cost $11.35 million and would include 18,000 square feet of new construction to replace the existing shelter, which would be torn down when the new construction is complete. The expansion would allow for 90 cat kennels, 40 dog kennels and dedicated space for animal isolation, quarantine and recovery. This option would retain and use some of the outbuildings to meet space needs, but veterinarian and office space would be limited. Option A would fully meet VDACS requirements and mostly meet the internal audit and ASV requirements.
Option B would renovate the interior of the current shelter and add 17,782 square feet of new buildings to the complex. The new buildings would be separate from the existing shelter, which would remain in place, and would cost $12 million. The renovation and new buildings would include a welcoming adoption lobby, a multi-purpose room for staff and community enrichment, 90 cat kennels and 40 dog kennels. Partial interior building renovation would be required under this option. Operations would be split between the existing shelter and new facilities once construction is completed. The renovations to the existing shelter would allow for some veterinarian and office space, and would include an additional 16 cat kennels and 15 dog kennels for isolation, quarantine and recovery. The existing building, which is nearing the end of its useful life, will need major maintenance in the next five to 10 years. Option B would fully meet the requirements of the ASV and VDACS and mostly meet the county’s internal audit.
Option D would include renovation to the existing shelter and add 21,769 square feet of new construction with 96 cat kennels and 47 dog kennels. The renovation to the existing building would include a new roof, new walls, new dog kennels and new windows. Option D would include 3,813 square feet of offsite adoption space with 10 cat kennels and eight dog kennels in each of two new buildings. Construction and renovation would allow for a welcoming adoption lobby, complete veterinarian and office space, dedicated animal isolation, quarantine and recovery, and a multipurpose room. Option D would meet all state and local requirements at a total cost of $16 million.
County staff had also come out in favor of Option C.
“We have engaged in a schematic design process over these past several months with our design team from Cole & Denny…we’ve looked at a number of options for a new shelter…and of those we’ve selected four…we recommend Option C,” said Tom Bruun from the Prince William County Department of Public Works.
Martha Seng, an expert in designing animal shelters, flew in from Texas to talk about the shelter design prospects.
“Our biggest concern is disease management, odor control, and the health of these animals, so that does require special finishes…we think of these as hospitals, almost,” said Seng.
Supervisor Candland expressed concerns about the price tag and the process for gathering price quotes for the animal shelter.
“I do this with every project – I’ve got nothing against animal shelters,” said Candland.
Several residents spoke out in favor of the project, citing several factors including the current conditions at the shelter, and the need for a facility that is the best for the health and well being of shelter employees and the animals house there.
Anderson, Caddigan, Jenkins, Lawson, Nohe, Principi, and Stewart voted in favor of Option C. Candland was the only one to vote against Option C.
Here is the presentation county staff provided on the animal shelter project:
