Village approves equestrian facility site plan with limits on horses, events, and screening requirements

The Village of Waukesha approved a site plan and plan of operation on March 13 for a horse-boarding and equestrian facility proposed by petitioner Diane Segeruski at W273 S6201 River Road, subject to conditions set by village staff.

Planner Sean Malarkey presented the application, which covers a 52-plus-acre parcel zoned A-1 with environmental corridors and floodplain near the Fox River. The plan includes an existing residence, multiple existing barns (one with an indoor riding arena), fenced paddocks and pastures, a new manure-storage area and a proposed 45-by-100-foot gravel parking area for visitors. Malarkey said the applicant provided a manure-management plan prepared in coordination with Waukesha County and that building and septic permits previously raised as compliance issues have been completed.

Approved operational limits and conditions include: a maximum of 20 horses on-site owned or boarded at any time; up to 20 additional horses allowed for special events; up to 10 employees; special events limited to eight per year, two days each, with an attendee cap of 40 (excluding owners, boarders and employees) and portable sanitary facilities (one ADA-accessible unit per 20 attendees); regular hours of daily activity 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., with special-event hours 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; a requirement that at least one employee reside on-site as an animal caretaker; and a requirement that the building inspector inspect barns used in the operation prior to occupancy and certify any commercial-use needs.

The planning commission and board directed staff to add two additional conditions: perimeter fencing should not be placed directly in front of the residence (perimeter fencing should be behind the house) and the trailer-storage/overflow parking area on the site’s high point must be screened from the south to the planner’s satisfaction. The motion to approve included the conditions in the staff report and those additional items; both bodies approved the plan by voice vote.

Malarkey said stormwater and erosion-control measures were not required because the new impervious area is less than one-half acre. No exterior lighting or on-site permanent outdoor sound amplifiers or bleachers are proposed; manure and mud cleanup on adjacent roadways is the owner’s responsibility per village conditions. The village will require the applicant to implement the manure-management plan and to provide the building-inspection sign-offs prior to final occupancy for the commercial portions of the operation.