04-17-1995 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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EXHIBIT A « j r.. Frank and Sue Kokesh purchased the Last Straw Farm in May, 1968. At that time, Last Straw Farm consisted of a 9.91 acre parcel with a house, bam, a 15’ x 50 ’ building used in connection with boarding horses, and a number of buildings that were later remov^. Approximately one year later, the Kokeshes constructed a large horse referred to as the -Indoor." After completing the Indoor, the Kokeshes bo^ed 20 horses on the site. This is a continuation of the historic use of die property and involves only the 9.91 acre parcel. At times the Kokeshes have had as many as 25 horses on the property ^d did so in reliance upon §10.03, subd. 18 of the Orono City Ordinances which provides that stock farms may continue to maintain the same number of ^irnals that existed^ of January 1, 1975, and may increase the number of animals so maintained by twenty-five percent. Following the acquisition of the 9.91 acre parcel, the Kokeshes acquired sever^ adjoining parcels which were combined into one tax parcel in 1986. In January, 1995, the Kokeshes filed an application requesting a subdivision of the property pursimt to SecUon 11.03, 66(A)(2) of the Orono City ordinances (which permits a subdivision of propeities previously combined for tax purposes). This application is currently pending before the City. The City has indicated that if it approves the Kokeshes’ subdivision application, the 9.91 acre parcel will no longer be deemed a stock farm because it will not mwt the requirements of Section 10.20, Subd. 3(L) that stock farms be at least 10 acres in size. As a result, the number of horses the Kokeshes will be allowed to maintain will be severely hmit^ and toe Kokeshes will no longer be able to operate toe property in the same manner in which it has historically been used, including breeding and stud services, boarding of horses for people other than property owners, riding lessons, horse shows and tack catalog sales. Furthermore, the 9.91 acre parcel contains only 8.41 acres of dry area which further limits toe number of horses toe Kokeshes would be allowed to keep on toe property according to toe current City Ordinances. As toe Ordinances arc currently interpreted, toe Kokeshes would be allowed to keep only 6 horses on toe property (1 horse for the first 3 acres Md 1 additional horse for each additional acre). This is a drastic change from toe 20 to 25 horses they have kept on toe property over toe years. 4 • 3M7S6