Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-02-03-019 — Kurt & Chris Wilson

Request: "In A-2 (agricultural) zone as follows: 1. Special Exception for commercial horseboarding and training facility; 2. Special Exception to allow 14 horses on 4.8 acres in lieu of one per one acre; 3. Variance for unpaved parking in lieu of paved; 4. Variance to allow horse coral within 50 ft. of front property line and proposed stable within 30 ft. of side property line on the north."

Decision: Approved

Hearing: "The Staff Report and Recommendation is located on Pages---- The applicants want to board and train show horses (Morgans')and would be stabled. They asked for 14 horses as they felt that is the number needed in order to turn a profit. Staff advised of speaking with the County's Agricultural extension agency's equine expert regarding this request. The commentary was that if the horses are stabled versus pastured, received adequate exercise and feed by the owners, then 14 horses on 4.8 acres would not pose a problem. The issue rests with the quality of care and responsibility by the owners. The adjacent property owner to the north spoke in opposition. She felt that 4.8 acres was too small a land area to take care of 14 horses. She pointed out a problem wherein the applicants had stockpiled horse manure close to their property line, which produced an odor. The BZA noted the applicant owned the smallest parcel in the area and that 14 horses may not be appropriate given the size of the parcel and the amount of green area that would be lost as a result of this venture. The district board member suggested reducing the number to 10, which is double the maximum zoning requirement. If the operation is successful and proves compatible with the neighbors, the BZA would entertain a future request to increase the number. The BZA added conditions #10 and #11 to ensure no more manure odor problems would be inflicted upon the neighbors."