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Derby planning commission recommends county conditional use for riding academy on South Greenwich Road
Summary
The commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval of a county conditional use to allow a riding academy and stable at 199217 S. Greenwich Road, with conditions on hours and lighting; the recommendation will be forwarded to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.
The Derby Planning Commission voted 7-0 Thursday to recommend approval of a county conditional use for a riding academy and stable at 199217 South Greenwich Road, forwarding the application to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission for final action.
Commissioners heard an overview from Everett Haynes, assistant city planner, who said the property lies in unincorporated Sedgwick County but within Derby’s area of influence and is zoned rural residential, where riding academies and stables are allowed only with a county conditional use. Haynes described the subject property as part of a larger parcel and said the conditional-use area occupies roughly 40 acres of a 110-acre tract. Notices for the hearing were mailed April 9, published April 10 in the Ark Valley News and signs were posted on-site April 11; the MAPC hearing is scheduled for April 24.
Why it matters: a county conditional use affects land use and potential nuisances for nearby rural-residential neighbors and will remain a county-regulated use unless annexed. Commissioners tied their recommendation to operational conditions intended to limit neighborhood impacts.
City staff and the applicant described the proposal and the likely neighborhood impacts. Everett Haynes said the location is predominantly agricultural and large-lot residential and that staff believed the proposed use is an appropriate fit for the area given surrounding barns, paddocks and buffers. Christina Reed of planning staff said, “Staff has determined that, we expect that any impact to public roads and services should be minimal.”
The applicant’s agent, Greg Farris, spoke for the property owner and said they agreed with the staff report but asked the commission to allow extended hours on Friday and Saturday nights so occasional horse shows could run later in summer months. Farris said, “We concur with everything in the staff report... We would like to be able on Friday and Saturday night to have those operation hours be till midnight.” He estimated such events would be limited to about five or six per year in addition to routine lessons and boarding.
A neighbor, Kathy Massey, who lives north of the site, said she and other nearby residents supported the operation but asked the applicant to address light spill from the barn. Massey told the commission she had “absolutely no objection” to the facility overall but asked that lights be shielded so they would not shine into her home at night.
Commission discussion focused on the hours and lighting. Commissioners and staff agreed to include MAPD’s recommended conditions and to allow limited late hours on Fridays and Saturdays while requiring measures to reduce light spill, particularly from the north side of the barn.
Commissioner Renberger moved to adopt the findings of fact and recommend approval of the conditional use for a riding academy and stable at 199217 South Greenwich Road, including the agreed hours and lighting conditions; Commissioner Hesitine seconded. The commission voted 7-0 (Adams, Ehman, Heflin, Hessletime, Quigley, Renberger, Voth) to forward a recommendation of approval to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission with the stated conditions.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission will consider the conditional use and the commission’s recommended conditions on April 24. If the property is ever annexed into Derby, staff noted the county conditional use status would remain in effect but could be restricted under city regulations at annexation.
