Board approves Hurley Riding Academy conditional use; neighbors had mixed views on traffic and dust

The Adams County Board of County Commissioners on July 1 approved a conditional use permit (RCU 2023-68) allowing the Hurleys to use two horses as part of the Giggling Life Care Farm’s equine program. The board vote was 5-0 after a session with staff, the applicants and more than a dozen public commenters.

Planner David DeBoskey told the board the 4.3-acre property at 14583 Cherry Street already houses a permitted accessory agritourism operation (the Giggling Life Care Farm) that includes chickens, ducks, lambs, goats, steers and miniature donkeys. The current application sought to add two horses for a riding-academy element — not to expand the total animals beyond what county zoning allows. DeBoskey said the site plan included 16 parking spaces and a drop-off lane; staff had proposed 12 conditions of approval and one note, and the planning commission recommended approval.

Applicants Christy and John Hurley described their camp and farm programs and offered testimony about program operations and safety: camps are held during the summer (four days per week sessions for nine weeks) and smaller weekday programs occur during the school year. The Hurleys said they stagger drop-off times, plan to add a back parking area and follow biosecurity and animal-care protocols, and that they clean pens twice daily and manage waste and flies per described practices.

Public comment at the hearing included several parents, volunteers and regular participants who described the farm as an educational and therapeutic resource that has benefited children with special needs and helped build responsibility and confidence. Several attendees provided detailed accounts of children’s progress and family experiences. One nearby resident spoke in opposition, citing concerns about traffic volumes, dust, manure and potential effects on property values; that commenter asked the board to weigh neighborhood impacts.

Board discussion focused on traffic, dust mitigation and how to handle signage and parking during events. Staff, the county’s engineering and public-works representatives and the applicant worked through language on temporary traffic-control plans and the placement of signage. The board decided to remove a staff-proposed requirement for permanent “no parking” signage along the roadway frontage and instead preserved the county’s ability to require infrastructure or a traffic-control plan for specific events as needed. The final approval included the conditions recommended by staff as modified in the hearing.

Commissioners stressed the need for the applicant to be a good neighbor: they noted staff had added conditions responding to dust-control and event-management questions and that compliance and any enforcement of nuisances or code violations would be handled through the county’s code compliance and health departments. Code compliance staff said odor and intermittent dust complaints can be difficult to enforce without documented or observed violations, and recommended photo documentation and repeated observations when problems arise.

The board approved the conditional use permit 5-0. Staff recorded the motion as approval of RCU 2023-68 with 8 findings of fact, 12 conditions of approval (as modified) and one note. The applicants may proceed subject to those conditions and any required permits for future special events.