New 'teeth' in rules threaten 4-H rides

FORT COLLINS, Colorado – Working group members bristled at Larimer County staff Monday night over new “teeth” in proposed stable zoning rules, which could also affect other rural zoning.

Among scenarios debated:

• Not-for-pay events, like 4-H rides, triggering county review of the landowner, even if their property is not a stable.
• Labeling as “equestrian events”, any event where fees or services, like painting the arena or jumps, are exchanged for riding privileges. (In the new rules, equestrian events trigger county review.)
• Tracking down all non-compliant equestrian operations and potential equestrian operations, and if they have not applied for county review within six months, start code-enforcement proceedings against them.
• Removing “use-by-right” for people that board just a few horses.
• Removing a 50-percent fee discount that had been proposed in a “transition program” for existing stables.
• Requiring land stewardship/resource management plans for all stables, and possibly for horse properties in general. (The county would provide templates and guidelines.)
• Requiring construction of paved roads to stable parking areas.
• Requiring documentation of client numbers or vehicle trips.
• Adding “growth management areas” to the mix, which could make it harder for a horse operation to get approval.
• And defining what, exactly, is a “horse”? A riding horse? A retired horse? A boarded horse? A lesson horse? A pony? A full-sized horse? A mini-horse? A donkey?

“If this is what we’re going to adopt, then let’s just throw the whole thing out and just take Boulder’s

regs,” said working group member Wendy Chase. “There’s nothing in this new thing that’s a use by right now.”

The discussion Tuesday night followed small-group breakout sessions in which county staff members elaborated on their ideas.

“Staff have been working very diligently on this. The county is going to try to make this happen,” said county planning director Linda Hoffman at the start of the meeting. “Our hope is that work done on these standards for horses could apply to other rural uses.”

Other working group members expressed concern over the direction the staff changes have taken.

“I would like this to be a very positive thing,” said working group member Jill Cook. “The horse community tends to get up in arms if they don’t like something. I don’t know who is gonna do this or who’s gonna pay for it. I’m not volunteering.”

Update 03_10_10: A joint session of the working group, county staff, planning commissioners and Larimer County Commissioners is planned for March 10, 6 p.m., Carter Lake Conference Room, 200 West Oak Street, Fort Collins, Colorado.

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