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ACITY OF ClIANIIASSEN
H A S S Chanhassen is a Community for Life-Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: Bob Generous, Senior Planner
DATE: January 9, 2017
SUBJ: Potential Amendments to City Code - Stables
BACKGROUND
The Planning Commission has review responsibility for Chapters 18 and 20. A public hearing is
required to make changes in these chapters. We are requesting that the City Council review the
proposed revision to Chapter 20 related to stables in the Single-Family Residential District and
recommend an ordinance amendment incorporating the changes. In addition, we are proposing
changes to other chapters of the City Code related to the stable ordinance and are presenting
them to the City Council for your review and comments.
DISCUSSION
Chapter 1, General Provisions
Issue: Some definitions need to be added to better clarify the requirements and meaning of the
ordinance relative to stables and stable permitting.
Staff is recommending that we add definitions to help clarify the stable regulations in chapter 5.
Free choice means the horse has a free and independent opportunity to access a structure
without human intervention. A horse may voluntarily enter and exit said structure. (5)
Mini-horse means a horse that is 34 inches or less in height at maturity. (5)
Pasture means a fenced area of real property for the grazing or keeping of horses, cattle,
goats or sheep. A pasture may be grassed which means that it provides sufficient and
suitable vegetation for the feeding of a horse during the growing season or a "dry lot"
which does not provide sufficient and suitable vegetation for the feeding of a horse. In a
"dry lot" the horse must be fed to meet its minimum daily nutritional needs. (5)
PH 952.227.1100• www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us • FX 952.227.1110
7700 MARKET BOULEVARD • PO BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN • MINNESOTA 55317
Planning Commission
Issue Paper - Potential Amendments to City Code— Stables
January 9, 2017
Page 2 of 4
Chapter 5, Animals and Fowl, Article III, Horses
Issue: As currently written, the standards for allowing horses on a property count the entire
property in meeting the requirements of the minimum standards for horses. However, it is only
that area of the property that is not built on with a house or other structures that would be eligible
for use as pasture or dry lot area that should be counted toward the minimum requirements.
Staff has been investigating clarifications to the ordinance that should be made to facilitate this.
Staff has been in contact the University of Minnesota Equine Extension Services to development
best management practices for stables and pasture land. Staff is recommending the following
changes to the ordinance:
Section 5-86
In this article, "horse" includes horses, colts, ponies, mini-horses, mules, burros, alpacas or
llamas.
Clarifies that mini-horses and alpacas are included in animals allowed as part of a stable permit.
Section 5-89 (a) (3):
Horses must be provided a minimum of free choice protection or of a constructed shelter from
direct rays of the sun when temperatures exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit, from wind and from
freezing precipitation for all horses. Natural or Constructed shelters must be a minimum of 240
square feet for the first horse and 60 square feet for each additional horse of sufficient size
to provide the necessary protection. Four mini-horses are equivalent to one horse. Each
additional mini-horse in excess of four horses would require a minimum of 15 square feet
of additional shelter area. Constructed shelters must be structurally sound, free of injurious
matter, maintained in good repair, and ventilated.
Clarifies the minimum size standard for acceptable shelters for horses.
Section 5-104
a. A stable permit shall be issued by the city clerk upon approval by the stable inspector if the
following conditions are met:
(1) Minimum pasture acreage for two horses shall be 11/2 acres, and for three horses shall be two
. . . . .. . •. . . . . ...• . . . determined
as follows:
(a) Grassed pasture two (2) acres per horse. Mini-horses may reduce the required
grassed pasture to one-quarter (1/4) acre per mini-horse. A grassed pasture
Planning Commission
Issue Paper- Potential Amendments to City Code— Stables
January 9, 2017
Page 3 of 4
provides sufficient and suitable vegetation for the feeding of a horse during the
growing season.
(b) Dry lot 400 square feet of pasture per horse. Mini-horses may be reduced to 200
square feet of dry lot per horse. A "dry lot" does not provide sufficient and suitable
vegetation for the feeding of a horse.
(2) No stable permit shall be issued for a lot of less than one acre.
(3) Such area shall be enclosed by a sturdy wood, metal, or electrical fence which will keep the
animal or animals confined within.
(4) A shelter or stabling facility which will keep the animal or animals comfortable and protected
from the elements and which shelter or stabling facility shall be no closer than 100 feet from
any structure other than the applicant's, which is used for residential purposes.
(5) The shelter or stabling facility shall be so located so as not to create a public nuisance.
(6) The shelter or stabling facility shall be clean and sanitary such that it will not be a harborage
for rodents, flies and insects.
(7) Keeping, storing, stabling, or maintenance of horses shall not directly contribute to the
pollution of any public body of water.
(8) Accumulations of manure shall be located at least 100 feet from any well.
(9) All accumulations of manure shall be removed at such periods as will ensure that no leaching
or objectionable odors exist, and the premises shall not be allowed to become unsightly.
(10) The shelter structure shall be a minimum of 200 feet from any wetland.
(11) Should a variance be requested from these standards, the owner must successfully
complete an equine management program through the University of Minnesota
Extension program or other accredited program and implement such standards.
Clarifies the minimum pasture standards for horses. Also provides standards for the deviation
from the standards.
Chapter 20, Article XII, "RSF" Single-Family Residential District
Issue: City code permits stables in the RSF district as an interim use. This type of use is a hold-
over from the time when the city was more agrarian and began rezoning land from R1A to RSF
district. At that time, there were more equine uses throughout the community. At one time,
there was even a commercial stable located in the vicinity of Bretton Way and Teton Lane in
north central Chanhassen. Over time, this area has been subdivided in to single-family homes.
Planning Commission
Issue Paper- Potential Amendments to City Code—Stables
January 9, 2017
Page 4 of 4
In March 2016, the City approved an interim use for a property on Ridge Road. At that time, it
became apparent that this type of use was becoming less compatible with the increasing
residential nature of these areas.
City code would still permit stables in the Rural Residential and Agricultural Estate districts.
Staff is recommending that Section 20-616 be amended as follows:
Section 20-616- Interim uses.
The following are interim uses in the "RSF" District:
(1) Reserved ' - . - . . • . - - . . - • . - , •• • - .
(2) Commercial stables with a minimum lot size of five acres.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is seeking feedback and direction from the Planning Commission to drafting an ordinance
addressing the issues listed above.
Attachments
List of existing Stable Permits
g:\plan\city code\issue paper\stables\stable memo 1.9.17
NEWS and INFORMATION
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The following is a list of Stable Permits:
Anne Marcotte, 7240 Galpin Blvd
Richard Chadwick, 420 Lyman Blvd
Joy G o rra, 1680 West 78th St
Leslie O'Halloran, 710 West 96th St
Bill & Charlene Schubert, 9610 Meadowlark Ln
Matt & Sarah Christensen, 10 Pioneer Trail
Jim & Teri Byrne, 700 West 96th St
Andrea Carty, 675 Lakota Lane
Karen Hasse, 630 West 96th St
Pheasant Creek Farms LLC, 1705 Flying Cloud Dr
Elizabeth Vogel, 105 Pioneer Trail
Chuck & Sandy Worm, 760 West 96th St
Mara Schottenbauer, 3891 West 62nd St
Carol Dunsmore, 730 West 96th St
Sandra Kadisak, 810 Pioneer Trail
Ann Nye, 1641 West 63rd St
Dave & Judy Walstad, 10071 Great Plains Blvd
Carissa Haverly, 750 West 96th St
Paws, Claws & Hooves Pet Boarding, 10500 Great Plains Blvd
Any resident wishing to comment on the issuance of these stable permits should direct
written comments to the City Manager,Todd Gerhart, 7700 Market Blvd., P.O.Box 147,
Chanhassen, MN 55317 within 10 days of the publication. If no comments are received,
the permit will be issued as presented, subject to the approval by the inspector.