Commission hears update on proposed miniature-horse rule change; villagers seeking text amendment

The Zoning Board of Appeals received an update on Aug. 14 about a resident’s request to keep miniature horses for therapeutic work and the village’s plan to consider a text amendment to the farm-animals ordinance rather than process the request as a hardship variance.

Director Witt told the commission the applicant originally sought a zoning variance but did not meet the “extreme hardship” standard for a variance. As a result, the request will be pursued as a text amendment to the village’s farm-animals provisions and will go to the village board. Witt and staff said they are drafting language that would limit the amendment to miniature horses (smaller equines), include a lot-size threshold reduced from the standard 80,000 square-foot figure discussed for full-size equines, and add protections to prevent animal impacts on sensitive woodlands and wetlands.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about scale and enforcement. The applicant’s stated program would use miniature horses (discussed as about the size of a large dog, roughly 36 inches tall) for therapeutic sessions; staff said they would propose an occupancy threshold appropriate to the animals’ smaller size and draft safeguards (for example, corralling requirements and buffer rules) to reduce the risk of trampling in woodlands and wetlands.

Director Witt said the draft text amendment is in preparation and that the matter will not return to the ZBA for a variance because this is a code-text change. He noted staff will craft language for the village board to consider that would apply to any property seeking the same use, not a single-property exception. No final action was taken at the meeting; staff advised the applicant to communicate with planning staff and the village attorney as the draft text is prepared.