Laserfiche WebLink
Community Development Director Frolik stated that City staff has been working with the Horse <br />Care Board for several months to review and update the City's regulations for keeping farm <br />animals and horses. The current farm animal ordinance states that a property owner may have <br />two goats, pigs, or cows in any combination, as long as they have three to 20 acres of land and a <br />conditional use permit from the City. Beyond 20 acres, there are not limits on the kinds and <br />numbers of animals they may have. Currently, there are no regulations regarding the keeping of <br />exotic animals such as ostriches. The result of this effort is threefold. First of all, it is being <br />recommended that the farm animal ordinance redefine the list of farm animals to include cows, <br />mules, donkeys, burros, ponies, goats, pigs, sheep, lamb, turkey, geese, chickens, and ducks. <br />· Each type of animal is assigned a number of animal units based on production of waste. Then an <br />appropriate number of animal units is prescribed for various size parcels ranging from thee to 20 <br />+ acres. The number of animal units allowed on a parcel is decreased by one unit for each horse <br />being maintained on the subject property when there is a mix of farm animals and equines. <br />Language is also being added to require a conditional use permit for the maintenance of exotic <br />animals on a parcel. Secondly, it is being recommended that the horse ordinance be clarified to <br />reflect that when only equines are being maintained on a property, the number of animals <br />allowed is based on a parcel size only and not based on units of waste production as in the farm <br />animal ordinance. The proposed ordinance also amends the parcel size requirements for <br />maintaining horses. Currently, the horse ordinance states that a property owner may have two <br />horses on three acres, and one additional horse for each ½ acre over three acres. The ordinance <br />amendment will require one full acre over three acres for each additional horse. Language has <br />also been added to allow for the lease of contiguous property for increasing the number of <br />permitted horses on a parcel when the horse owner has title to at least three acres. Thirdly, <br />Chapter 5 has a Barns and Stables section that requires barns to be at least 50 feet from any place <br />of human habitation. The R-1 Rural Residential Section in Chapter 9 required barns to be at <br />least 75 feet from any property line. The ordinance amendments would transfer the 75 foot barn <br />setback requirement from Chapter 9 to Chapter 5, in the same section as the 50 foot setback <br />requirement. <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt stated that his only concern with amending the ordinance is the effect it has <br />with current property owners in the City. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Frolik replied that anybody who is legal under the current <br />ordinance would become lawful non-conforming under the new ordinances. If the property <br />owner wanted to assure that status they could file their information with the City. She suggested <br />including an article about the ordinance changes in the Ramsey Resident. <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt suggested holding a public hearing to receive feedback from the residents <br />about the changes. <br /> <br />Motion by Chairperson Nixt, seconded by Commissioner Watson, to schedule a public hearing. <br /> <br />Motion Carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Nixt, Commissioners Watson, Kociscak, Sweet, and <br />Wivoda. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioners Johnson and Reeve. <br /> <br />Planning Commission/May 1, 2001 <br /> Page 11 of 14 <br /> <br /> <br />