Council zones horses, houses


By E.D. ALEXANDER
Express Staff Writer

The city of Sun Valley, through proposed amendments to its zoning ordinance, could be changing densities for both houses and horses.

The city council looked over an amended zoning ordinance during a public hearing at its meeting last Tuesday.

The sentiment from both the planning and zoning commission and residents, according to Sun Valley’s Community Development Director Jack Cloud, was to require both a minimum and maximum density to ensure housing for future residents.

In the multi-family district, the ordinance would keep the current ceiling of seven units per acre. But proposed language creates a minimum of four units on each acre.

"This to me feels like a firecracker," said Councilwoman Linda O’Shea.

City attorney Rand Peebles agreed. He said that requiring a minimum density may not be legally enforceable without strong language in the city’s comprehensive plan that specifically allows it.

"We want to have a community where people live as well as where they come to visit," Cloud said.

"Zoning is an interesting animal," said Mayor Tom Praggastis.

And the council discussed animals as well.

Currently, in the rural estate and ranch district section of the zoning ordinance, two horses can be kept on one acre; three horses on two acres; and four horses on two-and-a- half acres.

Under a proposed change, a homeowner could apply for a conditional use permit to have more than four horses on an appropriately sized parcel of land.

Praggastis said keeping horses has been a major issue for people that live next to homes with stalls because of noise and smell.

He also said the language in the ordinance is a "hold-over" from days when there was more open space between residences.

Two horses is too many for one acre, Praggastis said.

"I don’t think we should have horses in the city on residential lots, period," said the mayor, who added that a larger lot--possibly five or 10 acres--would be big enough.

The council discussed the possibility of requiring a conditional use permit for even a single horse.

Peebles said it would be better to work out the issues by creating a standard in the ordinance rather than dealing with individual situations as they come up.

"You run into the situation when a conditional use for a horse could get nayed down," he said.

The public hearing was continued to the council’s next meeting on May 21.

 

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