Committee asks council to study adding roughly 588 acres to equestrian preserve; staff to prepare amendments

The Equestrian Preserve Committee on Jan. 7 voted unanimously to request that the Village Council direct staff to prepare a village-initiated set of comp-plan and land-development amendments to expand the boundary of the Equestrian Preserve area.

Committee members described a proposal to add roughly 588 acres to the preserve boundary, including a highlighted parcel of about 177.93 acres currently used for agriculture. Staff explained that some of the land already has conservation easements (the Wellington Preserve and Moncada areas), and that the recommended expansion would fold additional adjacent parcels into the preserve or reclassify subareas as needed.

Speaker 7 (staff) and other members said the expansion would be accomplished by a village-initiated amendment, followed by notification to property owners and the standard process of analysis and review by EPC, planning staff and council. Staff noted some of the parcels were purchased with federal and state funds and are subject to restrictive covenants protecting current uses.

Discussion covered logistical questions (which parcels to include, annexation status, and whether trails or maintenance responsibilities would change). Committee members emphasized notifying landowners and factoring in unique constraints for particular parcels, including prior annexation or platting conditions and conservation easements.

A motion was made, seconded and approved unanimously; staff said they would coordinate with the village manager on timing and may seek council consensus at an upcoming agenda-review meeting, then prepare the formal amendment package.