Queen Creek planning commission approves conditional use permit for D and D Mini Ranch stock-dog trials

The Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit for D and D Mini Ranch to host stock-dog trials and to keep more animals than normally allowed under the town's zoning code. The commission took the vote after a public hearing and presentations by town staff and the applicants.

Eric Swanson, planning staff, told commissioners the request (identified in staff materials as P24-0048) applies to a 4.9-acre property in the Ellsworth Mini Farms community and would allow the property owners to operate up to six stock-dog events annually between November and March, each lasting one to three days. Swanson said the operation prompted a code-enforcement response after a complaint about a large number of animals; planning staff subsequently determined the use required a conditional use permit.

The conditional use permit request seeks two primary exceptions: authorization to hold the stock-dog trial events and permission to exceed the number of animal units allowed under the R1-43 zoning (the town's one-acre residential lot standard). Swanson described the events as daytime only, without amplified sound or lighting, and estimated…