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Council approves horse‑keeping rules; debate centers on acreage, rounding and private versus commercial stables
Summary
Council voted 6–1 to adopt Unified Development Code amendments that clarify stable definitions, require an acre minimum for privately owned horses in SF‑36, and round allowed animals to the nearest half‑acre for counting. Planning and Zoning recommended denial; council members debated the acreage threshold, rounding method and whether private st
City council approved amendments to the Unified Development Code that update definitions and rules for private and commercial stables, set a limit on privately owned horses in single‑family SF‑36 zoning, and add standards to commercial stable SUP applications.
The adopted changes: the UDC now treats horses under stable definitions rather than the generic livestock definition, requires a minimum of one acre before privately owned horses are allowed in SF‑36, sets a default rule of no more than one horse per half‑acre and specifies that property acreage for permitted horses is rounded up to the nearest half‑acre when calculating allowed animals. Staff also removed duplicative provisions and clarified that commercial stables require a specific use permit (SUP); SUP applications for boarding operations must include standards of care addressing fencing, shelter, sanitation and feeding, and council retains the right to set a maximum number of animals in an SUP.
Council debate: commissioners on the planning and zoning commission recommended denial (vote 5–2). During council discussion, members and staff recounted lengthy stakeholder conversations about how to measure allowed animals (per acre versus horse‑per‑acre units) and how rounding should work. Council members expressed differing views: one council member said he supported a one‑acre minimum as a practical baseline and explained that a one‑acre parcel would typically be divided for residence and animal area; another council member said he preferred retaining a 36,000‑square‑foot standard (the SF‑36 zoning) rather than moving to an acre baseline. Staff noted the half‑acre rounding rule was discussed in an earlier work session and that the provision came from council direction.
Enforcement and next steps: staff said commercial boarding remains SUP‑only and that private stable rules will be administered under the UDC. Council approved the overall amendment package 6–1; a dissenting vote referenced concerns about the acreage threshold.
