Agenda - Council - 07/10/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-72- Case #8: Introduce Proposed Ordinance to Amend Regulations Relating to the Keeping of Animals Community Development Director Frolik stated that City staff has been working with the Horse Care Commission for several months to review and update the City's regulations for keeping farm animals and horses. The current farm animal ordinance states that a property owner may have two goats, pigs, or cows in any combination, as long as they have three to 20 acres of land and a conditional use permit from the City. Beyond 20 acres, there are no limits on the kinds and numbers of animals they may have. Currently, there are no regulations regarding the keeping of exotic animals such as ostriches. The result of this effort is threefold. First of all, it is being recommended that the farm animal ordinance redefine the list of farm animals to include cows, mules, donkeys, burros, ponies, goats, pigs, sheep, lamb, turkey, geese, ch/ckens, and ducks. Each type of animal is assigned a number of animal units based on production of waste. Then an appropriate number of animal units is prescribed for various size parcels ranging from three to 20 + acres. The number of animal units allowed on a parcel is decreased by one unit for each horse being maintained on the subject property when there is a mix of farm animals and equines. Language is also being added to require a conditional use permit for the maintenance of exotic animals on a parcel. Secondly, it is being recommended that the horse ordinance be clarified to reflect that when only equines are being maintained on a property, the number of animals allowed is based on a parcel size only and not based on units of waste production as in the farm animal ordinance. The proposed ordinance also amends the parcel size requirements for maintaining horses. Currently, the horse ordinance states that a property owner may have two horses on three acres, and one additional horse for each one-half acre over three acres. The ordinance amendment will require one full acre over three acres for each additional horse. Language has also been added to allow for the lease of contiguous property for increasing the number of permitted horses on a parcel when the horse owner has title to at least three acres. Thirdly, Chapter 5 has a Barns and Stables section that requires barns to be at least 50 feet from any place of human habitation. The R-1 Rural Residential Section in Chapter 9 required barns to be at least 75 feet from any property line. The ordinance amendments would transfer the 75 foot barn setback requirement from Chapter 9 to Chapter 5, in the same section as the 50 foot setback requirement. The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed ordinance on May 1, 2001, and although it isn't required, they directed City staff to schedule a public hearing. The Planning Commission held the public hearing on June 5, 2001, and there was no written or verbal comments submitted to the Commission. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that he felt that they had taken a step backwards in a couple of places and losing the intent of the original ordinance. The original ordinance was developed around the concept that on a 3 acre parcel there are many things on that pamel and the net acreage is less than the 3 acres. When you add acreage there are not those encumbrances on that property. The second three acres could potentially house more horses than the first three acres. The second concept is that it does not matter how many acres a property owner has, but how many pasture acreages there are. The City needs to recognize that the second three acres are not the same as the first three acres and the words "enclosed roaming area" needs to be placed back into the ordinances. He also felt that the number of animal units needs to be linear so that a City Council/June 12, 2001 Page 16 of 19 I I I I I I ! I I ! I' I I I I I ! I