Encinitas staff recommend approval for Boomen Road horse facility; neighbors raise fire, drainage and access concerns

City planning staff recommended approval Tuesday for a multi-structure private stable project at 3465 Boomen Road in the Olivenhain community, but neighbors urged the city to resolve fire-safety, drainage and access issues before finalizing the notice of decision.

Takuma, a planning staff presenter, described the proposal as work on a 4.98-acre lot that includes a 583-square-foot remodel/addition to the residence, a detached 1,184-square-foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU), a 4,946-square-foot 10-stall horse barn with support area and attached 669-square-foot office, a 4,062-square-foot horse walker, and a 1,169-square-foot garage with attached 908-square-foot hay barn. The project seeks administrative design review for grading exceeding four feet of fill and a minor use permit for multiple over-height and oversized accessory structures and to increase the allowed horses from nine to ten for a private stable use.

Takuma cited multiple Encinitas Municipal Code (EMC) sections invoked in the staff report: EMC §30.48.040(B)(3) and (H)(2) to allow additional area, height…