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Council agrees to initiate zoning change to allow noncommercial horse stables on a handful of very large RS‑18 parcels
Summary
Planning staff asked the committee to initiate a text amendment to allow noncommercial horse stables on RS‑18 parcels larger than 15 acres (with buffering and setbacks); staff said only five parcels meet the threshold and council moved the initiation forward with clarifying direction on buffers, horse limits and the prohibition on commercial boarding.
Planning staff presented a targeted text amendment on March 10 to add a limited use allowing noncommercial horse stables on RS‑18 parcels of 15 acres or more. The proposal applies to five existing parcels citywide that meet the size threshold and would not open the zoning district broadly for equestrian commercial uses without separate rezoning.
Jenny Peyton, planning and zoning director, said the language would mirror existing limited uses (RS‑30, RS‑87, AG‑43) but add RS‑18 parcels over 15 acres with requirements such as accessory-building setbacks (proposed 100 feet for these parcels), with alternatives including planted buffers and fencing for screening if the full setback cannot be met. Existing code limits were cited for the number of horses (three horses for the first two acres, with limits for additional acreage), and councilmembers discussed the arithmetic implications for very large parcels.
Several councilmembers pressed staff to confirm that the change would not permit commercial horse‑boarding or large boarding operations under the residential allowance; staff said commercial boarding would require rezoning and that the proposed change is strictly for private, noncommercial keeping of horses. After questions about buffer distances, density and whether the change would apply beyond the five parcels identified, staff said the amendment is limited in scope and that property owners could use rezoning if they sought commercial equestrian uses.
The committee voted unanimously to move the initiation to the next steps (planning commission and public hearings).
