The Equestrian Preserve Committee on Oct. 22 voted to approve a staff-initiated zoning text amendment that removes language specific to the Rustic Ranches overlay and makes properties there subject to the Equestrian Overlay Zoning District RV rules.

Senior planner Kelly Ferriolo told the committee the change (Ordinance 2025-20) eliminates a conflict between Rustic Ranches and the equestrian overlay by deleting the Rustic Ranches subsection that limited RV use to two consecutive weeks per calendar year. If the amendment is adopted by village council, properties in Rustic Ranches will instead follow the equestrian overlay section that allows temporary overnight RV residency with the required equestrian permit; under that section, properties of roughly 5 acres may have one RV, and unified parcels of 10 acres or more may be permitted additional units per the overlay’s rules.

Ferr iolo said Rustic Ranches was annexed in 2004 and that the overlay was adopted in 2006; the equestrian overlay was later amended in 2009 to allow RVs as temporary residences on parcels of five acres or more for up to six months with a special-use permit, but a conflicts clause meant that Rustic Ranches retained a stricter two‑week limit. The staff amendment removes that conflict and, because it is less restrictive than the existing Rustic Ranches language, aligns the area with recently passed Senate Bill 180, Ferriolo said.

Resident Jenny Carlson, who identified her address in Rustic Ranches, urged the committee to consider nonconforming lots in the neighborhood — she said some lots are 4.99 acres and would remain ineligible under a strict acreage cutoff — and raised a concern about notification to seasonal residents. Ferriolo and committee members acknowledged those concerns and said additional, community‑led requests (for differing lot-based rules) could be brought forward for separate consideration.

The committee moved to open public comment, heard Ms. Carlson, closed comment, and then voted to approve staff’s recommended text amendment. Committee members recorded unanimous approval during the meeting.

The amendment now advances to the Village Council for final action; staff told the committee the change is intended only to remove the conflict so Rustic Ranches follows the existing equestrian overlay rules and that any changes beyond that (for example, allowing more or longer RV use) would need to be proposed by the Rustic Ranches community and go through the public hearing process.

Implementation details: properties that qualify under the equestrian overlay will be subject to the overlay’s permitting process and to any applicable Palm Beach County health‑department rules for water and wastewater connections.