Work continues on new regulations for equine businesses
By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News
The rough ride continues for 21 volunteers who signed on to help the county
revise its regulations on horse businesses.
Nevertheless, they remain focused on completing their task before the end
of the year. The working group's fourth and last meeting with the public
will be held in late October or early November.
Larimer County established zoning regulations in the 1960s. Most of the
current rules for equine businesses were adopted in the 1980s, and many
people consider them to be outdated.
Another acrimonious issue is that the county enforces its zoning regulations
on a complaint basis, which often causes bad feelings among neighbors.
Earlier this year, after holding hearings on a zoning violation, the Larimer
County Commissioners decided it was time to review and possibly rewrite
regulations for horse businesses. They put Linda Hoffmann, director of
the Rural Land Use Center, in charge of the study and appointed 21 volunteers
representing horse owners and rural residents to evaluate the issues and
find solutions.
At the group's third set of public meetings held in mid-September, Hoffmann
emphasized the goal of the study: "Achieve enduring land use compatibility
that supports both a healthy equine industry and the property rights of
all Larimer County citizens."
Over the years, property owners who oppose all regulations have contended
that agriculture is protected in Larimer County. The county, however, has
no zoning classification defined as "agriculture." These days, with many
rural residential subdivisions springing up in what used to be wide-open
spaces, conflicts between uses are getting more notice.
The working group has decided it will recommend no change in rules for
riding stables that are located in tourist zones and rent horses for public
use.
The big changes will come for a combined business category to be called
"equestrian operation." The study group is working on ways to scale the
amount of regulation to the size of the business and its impact on neighbors.
"Finding that place on the fence is difficult," Hoffman said, noting that
the regulations have to protect both horses and neighboring property owners.
The working group is also committed to writing regulations that are fair
and measurable.
As of September, the group had focused on four levels of review for small
to large businesses. If adopted, some small equine businesses would require
no review. The second tier would require administrative review with no
public hearing. A third tier would be minor special review, and the highest
level would be special review. The latter is more expensive and takes more
time. Today's regulations almost always require special review, so changes
would most likely save horse businesses both time and money.
The group continues to work on a method of assigning points to the number
of horses, types of uses such as boarding or training, and size of acreage.
Total points would then determine what level of review is required.
The working group is also talking about a transition program during which
time a horse facility could choose whether it wanted to get approval under
the old or new regulations. There will be no changes in regulations, however,
until they are adopted by the county commissioners after holding a public
hearing.
At the conclusion of the Sept. 15 meeting in Fort Collins, dressage trainer
Melinda Weatherford said she remains concerned about fairness. It appears,
she said, that a person who charges for lessons will be more heavily regulated
than an equal use that's a hobby.
"If I don't get any money from pony clubbers, I can do anything I want,"
she said. "I don't get it."
John Faust, who owns horses but does not have an equine business, said
he likes the idea of a progressive policy based on intensity of the use.
"It shouldn't be one size fits all," he said.
Those interested in the working group's progress and future meetings can
find updates online at www.larimer.org/horses
or call Hoffmann at 498-7681.
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