Agenda - Planning Commission - 05/01/2001

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CASE REVIEW PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO AMEND REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE KEEPING OF ANIMALS: By: Community Development Director Sylvia Frolik Background: City Staff has been working with the Horse Care Board 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 3-20 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. Observations: 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, chickens 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 3 to 20+ acres. The number of animal units allowed on a parcel is decreased by 1 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 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 2 horses.on 3 acres, and one additional horse for each 1/2 acre over 3. The ordinance amendment will require one full acre over 3 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 3 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 requires 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. A copy of the current city code regulations for.animals, horses and barns is enclosed. A copy of each of the proposed ordinance amendments are also enclosed.