RLUC leading study of horse facility regulations
By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News
Under guidance of its second director since formation, the Rural Land
Use Center is broadening its services and exploring how to help people
with a variety of ideas for using their rural land.
On the job since June, RLUC Director Linda Hoffmann in December received
approval from the county commissioners to start a yearlong review of regulations
for horse facilities. She, other county staff and a volunteer group with
equine interests will study whether current regulations should be changed
or upheld as written.
"The land use code makes a big distinction between horses you own and horses
you board for others," Hoffmann noted.
Other regulated horse businesses include riding arenas and special events
centers. By the end of January, Hoffmann plans to have an inventory of
Larimer County's horse facilities, and staff will have reviewed equine
regulations in other counties.
After broad-based public meetings, several groups will be asked to appoint
representatives to the county's working group, Hoffmann said. If the study
group decides to leave the current standards in place, the county will
begin vigorous enforcement at the end of the year.
At this time, code enforcement officials respond to complaints from neighboring
property owners, and that will continue during the study period. Dust,
noise, odors and traffic are the usual complaints.
"This is not an amnesty, this is a work in progress," Commissioner Kathay
Rennels said when approving the project.
"I really think we can be successful," Hoffmann said in a later interview.
"I think there's a lot of expertise out there to draw on."
The working group will focus on equine-related businesses. It will not
deal with other livestock issues, as the county has twice attempted in
the last decade.
Hoffmann also wants the RLUC to work with the production side of the renewed
interest in locally grown food. That might start with a community food
assessment.
"We want to understand the food system component--where we have abundance
and potential shortfalls," Hoffman said.
Since 1996, the county's Rural Land Use Process has helped preserve acreage
for agriculture and wildlife by allowing clustered development with restrictions
on the undeveloped land.
Hoffmann noted that people come to the Rural Land Use Center in need of
options for more income.
"Maybe development is a good option, but not the one they want to do,"
she said. "We can be a resource for them."
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