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Council approves amendment to allow outdoor riding arena at Blue Valley Farm
Summary
The Independence City Council approved a conditional use permit amendment allowing an outdoor riding arena and drainage improvements at Blue Valley Farm LLC, 7550 Turner Road. The applicant shifted the arena to reduce neighbor impacts, submitted an updated landscape plan, and the Planning Commission’s recommended conditions were accepted. RESOLUTION No. 24-0730-01 carried 4-0.
The Independence City Council approved a conditional use permit amendment July 30 to allow an outdoor riding arena at Blue Valley Farm LLC, 7550 Turner Road, on about 23 acres.
Staff member Kaltsas told the council that the applicant moved the arena 96 feet west to reduce visibility from an adjacent property, proposed a drainage swale and a drain-tile system to address a historically wet area, and worked with Otten Bros. on an updated landscape plan that replaces an existing evergreen hedge with a shrub edge of dogwoods and lilacs with mounding. Planning Commission recommended approval after removing a condition restricting employees from residing on the property and clarifying limits on events.
Mayor Johnson asked the applicants whether they agreed with staff’s description; Jeanne Hoene replied, “he did a beautiful job,” and Tom Bren said they had met and everything was agreed upon. Staff member Vose clarified that the city’s single-family residence rules and accessory-dwelling provisions provide enforcement authority instead of the previously proposed employment-residency restriction.
Councilmember McCoy moved to approve RESOLUTION No. 24-0730-01; Councilmember Betts seconded. The motion passed 4-0 (Johnson, Spencer, Betts, McCoy).
The amendment allows the outdoor arena as described and requires the applicant to implement the updated landscape plan and drainage measures discussed at the Planning Commission. The council record notes that the arena had been constructed without permits initially and that the amendment includes measures to mitigate drainage impacts into the nearby wetland.
Next steps: The applicant must satisfy any building or land-use permit conditions and implement the approved landscaping and drainage measures. No appeals or additional council actions were recorded at the meeting.
