07-15-2002 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Dr. Michael Murphy, University of Minnesota Extension Office, conducted a site visit and determined our use is in keeping wth appropriate standards and the number of horses should not be an issue, especially relative to adequate feed for horses. City codes about horses are a little vague in this area, but it appears the primary concern is that horses have adequate food by grazing. Our horses are fed hay and grain that meet all their nutritional needs. The turnout area serves as an exercise area, not a source of food • Numerous neighbors provided written and/or verbal support for horses on our property- adjoining property owners who have lived here since 1979 stated in writing that horses* have been on the property at least since then In fact, aerial city photographs taken much earlier show our bam and turnout, as well as an oval track that no longer exists. The bam has been here for more than 60 years and a variable number of horses has been on the property for the same period of time • At the time of subdivision that created our property, the City Council tacitly approved the continued use of this property regarding horses by leaving the bam and its use intact. The only documentation pertaining to the number of horses occurred in 1987 when the city advised the previous owner that two horses were permitted. The bam was originally a nine-horse bam • In late 1988, when we purchased the property we were told of this documentation by our real estate agent and the previous owner when we were shown the property. Our use has not changed from the previous owner, except for improvements • This property is 3.68 acres, well over the two-acre minimum for RR-IB zoning district. It adjoins other two-acre or larger parcels and the Luce Line Trail (and horse back riding trail designated for horses only) and other open space, including a shared private driveway. The city files on our property' include a reference to 4.2 acres; this may be so, accepting at face value the previous owner’s statement that it measures 4+ acres, “when* you include the driveway ’’ • The turnout area used by our horses has vegetation of various plant types every summer (We even have to mow it!) and we have maintained the same-sized area that was used by the previous owners. •• • rr "'U ‘iJj r > f / ■ ^UJ J