Council discusses allowing limited farm/livestock use in SF-1 zoning after resident complaint; staff to draft ordinance language

A May 19 workshop discussion focused on whether the town should allow "farm, general" livestock uses in the SF-1 single-family residential estate zoning district or handle such requests case-by-case.

Amelia Thompson, who brought the item forward, and town planning staff described a prior enforcement case in which a horse historically kept on a lot in the Shadowwood Estates area (the meeting referred to the animal as "Pegasus") had to be removed after a new neighbor complained because the use was not expressly permitted by the town's land-use matrix. Planning staff noted that the SF-1 zoning standards currently include language about private animal lots and stables (the SF-1 text sets a 2.5-acre minimum for private animal lots and a one-animal-per-acre limit when grazing areas are available) but that the town's use chart does not list "farm, general" as a permitted use in SF-1; the result has been inconsistent outcomes and several neighborhood disputes.

Councilmembers discussed several options: (1) leave the ordinance as-is (no farms allowed in SF-1); (2) permit farm/general livestock in SF-1 where parcels have a specified minimum of usable grazing land; or (3) require a case-by-case approval process (an SUP or special exception). After discussion councilmembers expressed support for a narrow, administrable rule rather than a blanket allowance.

Staff and several councilmembers favored permitting livestock in SF-1 only where the parcel has "usable grazing area" above a threshold. Councilmembers and staff discussed a compromise: amend the use chart to mark farm/general uses as permitted in SF-1 when the parcel has at least 1.5 acres of usable grazing area and otherwise require a special approval process. That approach would avoid forcing previously established properties with historic uses to immediately change while ensuring the town can limit livestock in higher-density settings.

Harrison Wicks (planning staff) confirmed the amendment would require a change to the use chart and staff would return draft ordinance language after refining the rule and considering administration/enforcement details. Council asked staff to check for conflicts with Denton County's agricultural-exemption rules and to make the standard checkable by code enforcement (for example, using appraisal-district acreage minus building footprints and impervious area to compute usable grazing acreage).

Why it matters: the change would affect property owners in a limited set of SF-1 parcels and could resolve recurring disputes about animals and odors while preserving Argyle's rural character where appropriate. The council did not vote tonight; staff were asked to prepare a draft amendment that would return for public hearing at a future meeting.

Clarifying details: staff reported there are approximately 100 parcels zoned SF-1; the suggested workable threshold discussed by council was about 1.5 acres of usable grazing area in SF-1 to qualify for a permitted farm/general livestock use, with other operational standards (shelter, setbacks and per-animal space) to remain in place.