Sometimes things work out for the best. That’s the way Carlos Gutierrez sees it, although it didn’t look that way almost exactly two years ago when he faced a room filled with Wethersfield Commons residents. They didn’t want any part of his proposal to build a dog parlor on Jefferson Boulevard next to what is one of Warwick’s first condominium developments.

Wethersfield resident Marcia Beagan imagined people would cut through the neighborhood from Metro Center Boulevard, posing a hazard to residents who get their exercise walking. And, Nancy Mushlin told the Planning Board, “to construct a facility such as the one proposed will be an intrusion for all and will invade our peaceful domain. This is not conducive to the quality of life which we expected when we purchased the property.”

By a vote of 4-3, the board denied master-plan approval of the parlor.

Now that Gutierrez has found another Warwick location that he says is even better than Jefferson Boulevard, he hasn’t heard anything from the neighbors. He has acquired about 3 acres of what was a Thrifty Car Rental parking lot behind Dave’s Bar and Grill on Post Road. He hopes to break ground shortly for Rhody Pet Resort, the first of three developments on the land. The pet resort would be in the southern end of the lot. A veterinary hospital of about 7,500 square feet would be north of the resort, with the third parcel reserved for possible additional development as “the cherry on the top.”

The pet resort would be similar in size to the one proposed on Jefferson Boulevard and capable of accommodating 120 dogs for boarding and daycare. It would offer both indoor and outdoor play areas for small and large dogs and have six kennels to start. When boarding it would be staffed 24/7.

Gutierrez said the property is properly zoned for the development and the proposal has been cleared by the Planning Department.

Being close to Route 95 and Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, Gutierrez imagines the Pet Resort will be well situated for commuters and those flying out of state for vacation or work. He said rates for boarding and daycare would be competitive with those of similar area facilities. He sees it as bringing a new business into the area while serving a growing residential population, noting in particular the 214-unit Class A apartment complex under construction adjacent to the Airport Connector and Post Road.

“We think this is a no-brainer,” he said of Lauderdale/PVD Inc., the company that is building and leasing the property. The Gutierrez family owns and operates the Somi Pet Resort in Miami, Florida, which also backs up to the railroad track and is in a commercial/industrial area.

Of the intense debate that rallied the Wethersfield Commons community against his earlier proposal on Jefferson Boulevard, Guiterrez said, “I think it was a blessing in disguise.”

If plans continue to come together, Guiterrez hopes to have the pet resort open by this fall.