Work continues on codes for horse business facilities

A group of volunteers who live with or next to horse facilities has continued to tweak recommendations to change Larimer County's land use code.

Two public meetings are scheduled in April to get the changes ready for a decision by the county commissioners.

A public informational meeting on revised recommendations is set for April 6 at 6 p.m. in the hearing room on the first floor of the Larimer County Courthouse Offices Building in Fort Collins. This meeting is hosted by the volunteer working group that's been studying the issue for more than year.

The county planning commission will hold its public hearing on April 28, beginning at 6:30 p.m., also in the hearing room.

A final hearing by the Larimer County Commissioners will likely be held in May.

Planning director Linda Hoffmann said most of the concepts developed by the working group last year are still intact. Details about the working group's progress can be found in minutes of its meetings, which are available online at www.larimer.org/horses.

Hoffmann said the concept of reviewing horse business facility applications on a scalable system has been simplified. This concept outlines how the size of a business should determine the type of government review, which could include a more efficient administrative process for small facilities. Neighbors will still be notified so they can comment, Hoffmann said.

The April 6 meeting will also provide more information on a proposed transition program designed to bring illegal facilities into compliance.

More detailed documents are available now at www.larimer.org/boards/minutes/pcworkagenda.htm.

After April 6, more information will be posted at www.larimer.org/horses/meetings.htm

Last November, county planning commissioners postponed making a decision on recommended changes, saying there were too many unresolved issues. In particular, several planning commissioners said more details were needed on how neighbors next to horse businesses would be notified of changes and protected from impacts.

The November hearing brought out many voices of support, but a few stable owners who have already been approved by special review objected to implementing a less rigorous process for those currently operating illegally. They noted that all businesses have startup costs, and horse businesses are no exception.