Queen Creek planners hear request for stock-dog trials, larger livestock numbers on 4.9-acre property

The Planning and Zoning Commission on June 3 heard a public hearing on P24-48 D & D Mini Ranch, a conditional use permit request to hold stock-dog trials and to exceed the town’s animal‑unit limits on a 4.9‑acre property in the Ellsworth Mini Farms community in Queen Creek.

The applicant, Dan Sanderson, owner of D and D Mini Ranch, told the commission he and his wife moved to the area in 2020 and have been running agricultural operations that include year‑round Saint Croix sheep and, seasonally, up to roughly 65–70 calves brought in for trials. “We take it very, very important that we take care of these animals,” Sanderson said, describing feeding, shelter and fencing improvements and noting the livestock are kept in at night. He said organizers limit events to between one and three days and typically do not use amplified sound or nighttime lighting.

Eric Swanson, town planning staff presenting the item, summarized the proposal and staff’s findings. He said the site is zoned R‑1‑43 (one dwelling unit per acre) and that the applicant had been operating the stock‑dog events before staff learned of the activity via a complaint. Swanson said code enforcement met with the property owners and planning concluded a conditional use permit (CUP) was necessary; the owners then pursued compliance. Swanson described the proposed…