ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Robertsdale City Council paved the way for a local resident to open a dog kennel by rezoning property from residential to agriculture at its meeting Monday, Nov. 20.

Owner Peter Nesbitt told city council members that he purchased the property, located off of County Road 52 in Robertsdale’s planning jurisdiction, in April.

The home with a small barn located on the property was built in the 1960s, Nesbitt said, and remodeled just before he purchased the property.

His plan is to remove the barn and replace it with another structure, which would be used to house 14 to 20 dogs for use as a kennel, he said.

Robertsdale city engineer Greg Smith said all of the surrounding property is currently zoned agricultural and there were no objections voiced during a public hearing held during the Monday morning meeting.

The council voted unanimously to approve the rezoning request, adopting Ordinance No. 006-17 after voting unanimously to suspend the rules for immediate passage. Council member Ruthie Campbell was not present at the meeting.

In other business Nov. 20, the council approved a 5K and 10K benefit request from Julie Waters to be held in February.

Police Chief Brad Kendrick said the 5K run would use an existing route along Silverhill Avenue with a turnaround at Central Christian Church and School. The 10K run would extend along Hill Road, turning around at County Road 54, Kendrick said.

The fundraiser would benefit the Waters family foundation, which assists those who have gone through drug rehabilitation.

“Right now, funds would be used to send recovering addicts to a transitional facility, either in Mobile or Baldwin County,” Waters said. “Because there are so few facilities here, our ultimate goal is to eventually open our own transitional facility.”

The fundraiser is set for Feb. 10, Waters said, with a rainout date of Feb. 17.

Also on Nov. 20, the council:

•Approved the purchase of a new patrol vehicle for the Robertsdale Police Department.

•Approved a temporary ABC License for the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Banquet, which will be held Jan. 18 at the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale.