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Horse-boarding proposal at Fox Ranch Road continued after contentious public comment; rescheduled for Sept. 24
Summary
Commissioners continued CUP 25-022, a request to operate a horse-boarding facility at 22770 Fox Ranch Road, after extensive public comment and legal staff questions about a required neighborhood meeting. The commission asked staff and counsel to resolve noticing and procedural questions before taking a final vote.
Coconino County’s Planning and Zoning Commission continued action on CUP 25-022 — a proposal by Ryan Castellani to operate a horse-boarding facility on a 12-acre parcel at 22770 Fox Ranch Road — to its Sept. 24 meeting after an extended public hearing and procedural questions.
Case summary: Staff described the proposal to board up to 12 horses, to use existing stables and a 150’ by 250’ riding arena, and to either drill a new well or haul water for the use. The applicant said the operation would be small, family-run and not host nighttime events; hours of operation were proposed as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Public concerns and procedural issue: Six neighbors who live within 500 feet submitted opposition letters and several spoke at the hearing. Concerns included road maintenance and whether the private access and a water crossing could support additional traffic, manure handling and water-source setbacks, impacts on the adjacent conservation easement, and whether a required neighborhood meeting had been held. Counsel and staff reviewed the record and determined that the applicant had mailed notice and offered a meeting but that legal counsel needed time to confirm whether the county’s ordinance requirement for a community meeting (or a written waiver) had been met. County counsel advised the commission that it could continue the hearing to allow staff and legal to resolve the procedural question.
Commission direction: Commissioners raised questions about emergency access, manure setbacks from water bodies and vegetation screening. The applicant offered to plant screening trees and to restrict events and trailer parking; representatives confirmed they would install water storage and work with the fire district on a fire/safety plan.
Action: Commissioner Hayward moved to continue CUP 25-022 to the commission’s next regular meeting (Sept. 24) so the county attorney and staff could verify compliance with the neighborhood-meeting requirement and address access/fire/other operational concerns. Commissioner Best seconded; the commission voted unanimously to continue the hearing.
Next steps: Staff and legal will review the public-noticing record, and the applicant will be expected to provide additional evidence (access verification, fire plan and manure management) to address public-safety and environmental questions prior to the Sept. 24 hearing.
