Review Concept for Commercial Horse Farm Located at 17209 Saint Francis Blvd NW; Case of Dale Wills

The purpose of this case is to review a concept for a horse farm proposed at 17209 Saint Francis Blvd NW (the "Subject Property"). This is not an official application at this time. A potential Buyer of the property desires to review the concept with the City prior to closing on the property. The request will need to go through a Conditional Use Permit and Home Occupation Permit process, including a Public Hearing. The intent for this case is to provide a high level overview, identify any initial red flags, and outline any questions to be answered on an official application.

A Public Workshop was held on January 3, 2019 for surrounding property owners to learn more about this possibility and to identify possible concerns. The Planning Commission also reviewed the concept at their January 3, 2019 Meeting.

See attached concept plan for overview.  Note that Staff anticipates a formal application for a Conditional Use Permit, Home Occupation Permit, and Variance (lot frontage) to be on the February Planning Commission agenda.

Staff attempted to notify all property owners within 700 feet of the Subject Property by standard U.S. mail of the Public Workshop on January 3, 2019.

At the Public Workshop, which about 20-30 people attended, it appeared that the majority of the attendees (and a few that were unable to attend) preferred to see the uses of the Subject Property remain agricultural, including the proposed horse farm, rather than any sort of residential development.  However, that does not mean there were not concerns related to the proposed use.  The following concerns were raised:

• Manure Management and Odors
• Traffic Generation and Access
• Damage to Residential Roads and Costs/Assessments to Reconstruct
• Contamination of Ford Brook
• Buffer (Screening) along Southern Lot Line
• General Concern of Highway 47 Traffic Congestion (Existing)

The potential Buyer intends to eventually construct a new residence on the Subject Property.  This will require a lot split at that time, as City Code does not allow two (2) principal dwellings on a single parcel in the R-1 Residential (Rural Developing) District.  That will likely result in the elimination of access to the Subject Property from Highway 47 and would thus direct all traffic to the Subject Property via 177th Lane to Potassium Street NW.

The Planning Commission also reviewed this concept plan at their regular January meeting.  Questions arose regarding the size of the manure composting area, the size of the pasture area (due to the possibility of up to thirty-five (35) horses on the Subject Property per the potential Buyer), as well as whether any employees would be living on the  Subject Property.  Additionally, concerns were noted about the amount of traffic coming through an existing residential neighborhood and the potential loss of existing trees.  Draft minutes from that meeting are included with this case.

Staff is handling this case as part of our normal duties.

The potential Buyer is looking for any feedback from the City on this concept before proceeding with the purchase of the Subject Property.

No formal action is required.  This is more of an opportunity for the City Council to become familiar with this concept plan and provide any feedback to the potential Buyer.