It’s All About the Animals, a nonprofit cat shelter, received Zoning Board approval to modify a current building on the property. The expansion will make the structure larger than 1,000 square feet, thereby requiring a variance on the  special permit given in 2013.

Owners Oren and Pam Robinson said the purpose of the alteration is to provide room at the shelter for a washer and dryer. Pam said they were not requesting additional cat capacity. Currently, It’s All About the Animals, located at 103 Marion Road, may house up to 50 cats and three occasional dogs.

Board member Kirby Gilmore was less concerned with the expansion than with the possibility that another person could purchase the property and continue to operate a shelter on it without needing to apply for a permit.

“It’s been in the family for almost 200 years,” Pam said of the property. “It’s not going to go anywhere.”

Chair Robert Cutler said adding a stipulation to the couple’s special was not necessary, and that anyone who might take over the nonprofit, would not be required to seek a new permit.

The Zoning Board unanimously approved the Robinsons' request.