New land use rules: 'Ain't so damn easy'

FORT COLLINS, Colorado -- As it juggled public welfare, measurability, scalability, neighborhood interactions and existing law, the working group in charge of developing new land use rules for horse facilities edged toward agreement Tuesday night.
 “This whole idea of being a good neighbor. That ain’t so damn easy,” said working group member Dennis Goeltl, who later urged the group to create a concrete policy that people could rely on as the county grows.
The group was appointed earlier this year by county commissioners to study new rules for horse facilities, partly in response to a small but persistent problem with neighbor complaints against horse property owners in general. But members disagreed Tuesday night about how much control Larimer County should have over horse businesses.
“I don’t think government has any business telling people how to manage their horses,” said Wendy Chase.
“If we get into over regulating … I think that you’re actually limiting the ability of folks to manage their places,” added Pat Hall.
“There needs to be enough structure to protect us in two ways,” said Joe Andrews. “One, the planning department needs to administer this equally across the board … and two, there needs to be enough structure so that they’re not given a blank check, and require people to do things that are absolutely ridiculous.”

Eventually, a majority of the group gave “thumbs up” to five objectives drafted by Linda Hoffman, director of the county rural land use center. A final policy proposal is due by December, when the county commissioners are set to vote on the issue. The objectives agreed on Tuesday night included:
• Support the public health, safety and welfare.
• Create land use regulations for horses businesses that are fair and measurable.
• Match the level of the review with the potential for impact from the business.
• Promote positive interaction between neighbors.
• Be consistent with other regulations, e.g. state water law, and access restrictions.
Group members also talked about providing resources for raising awareness of good land stewardship, and Hoffman told members that county planners want zoning to be part of the final criteria.
Concern about low attendance at two recent public feedback meetings and the small number of feedback forms returned from those meetings took up part of Tuesday’s three-hour session.

‘Somehow everything to do with government scares people to death right now.' – Jack Throckmorton

“Somehow everything to do with government scares people to death right now,” said substitute member Jack Throckmorton, who also runs a tack store and large boarding stable. Throckmorton told members that many people come to him in his store asking questions, but are leery of officially interacting with the county. “Somehow, we’ve got to make them feel that they’re welcome to come, and they’re welcome to call,” he said.
Based on Tuesday night’s discussion surrounding “equestrian centers”, the new regulations could affect anyone who relies on a horse facility for boarding, lessons, training, riding camp, for-pay arena use, horse shows and other horse events, including non-profit activities. “If you are involved with horses in Larimer County, then this affects you,” said Chase.

'If you are involved with horses in Larimer County, then this affects you.' -- Wendy Chase

“Anybody who has horses in Larimer County is potentially affected by this,” agreed working group member Kathleen Doesken. “If you go to a clinic, board or show, then this affects you … And if people still don’t show up (to public meetings), then no mercy. Then I don’t feel sorry for whiners.”
As part of an increased outreach effort, Hoffman said she plans to have an informational table at the upcoming county fair, and she has contacted equestrian organizations to get their input. Hoffman agreed to resume posting upcoming meetings in local feed stores.
The working group added an extra meeting, slated for August 11, to help speed up development of concrete details for the new rules. Another meeting is also planned for August 25th.
“We’re at the point where we need to come up with some hard numbers,” said Chase.
A June bus tour of three stables, during which attendees took notes on quality and style of stable management, also came up Tuesday night. Member evaluations of the trip ranged from those who thought the tour was irrelevant because not all the stables were horse business to those who said the tour provided good information.
Children’s bicycles were parked against a tree at one stable, and a number of members told the group they thought young people’s access to horses needed to be protected.
“Urban kids need to have a place to have a horse, a safe place,” said working group member LuAnn Goodyear.
MyHoofprints previous coverage: Horse Property Issues