Horse Facilities Study

Need more information: Please call (970) 498-7681

Upcoming Meetings

Public Hearing before the Board of County Commissioners

The Board of County Commissioners held a hearing regarding the recommended code amendments and transition program on May 24, 2010. At that hearing, the Board tabled the decision to July 19, 2010, 6:30 p.m., Hearing Room, First Floor, 200 W Oak Street, Fort Collins, Colorado. The Board directed staff to reconvene the Working Group and make revisions to the recommendations based on the public input received at the hearing.

Flyers describing the recommendations that were presented on May 24, 2010, are shown below. A revised staff report will be prepared before the July 19, 2010 hearing and will include the revised recommended code amendment language, a transition program resolution, and revised recommendations for the intensity of use allowed as a use by right on parcels of 35 acres or more as an Accessory Horse Keeping use.

Past Meetings

Public Hearing before the Planning Commission

Hearing was held April 28, 2010. Planning Commission recommended approval of all revised recommended code changes and directed staff to revisit, and potentially increase, the maximum acceptable size of Accessory Horse keeping businesses on parcels of 35 acres or more. The Planning Commission did not make a formal recommendation on the transition program.

November 2009 Planning Commission Hearing

The public hearing before the Planning Commission was held on November 18, 2009. At this meeting, the study process was tabled and extended to accommodate input from County staff, the Planning Commission and the public.

October Meetings: Proposed Code Amendments

The fourth set of public meetings was held on October 29 and November 3, 2009.

The citizens Working Group developed recommended changes to the existing regulations for horse business facilities as specified in the Larimer County Land Use Code. An important component of the recommendations is a transition program for existing businesses. The program would be available for a limited time, perhaps one year, and would offer reduced fees and potentially other considerations to encourage existing businesses to secure County approval.

Other recommended changes include revisions to the land use definitions for horse businesses, a new scalable system to determine the appropriate review process for businesses of different sizes and intensities, and changes to the improvement standards for these business facilities.

The information presented at these meetings is listed below: (link to attached docs)

September 2009 Meetings: Recommended Alternative

The third set of public meetings was held on September 10 and September 15, 2009.

The Working Group developed proposed changes to the existing regulations for horse business facilities as specified in the Larimer County Land Use Code and these proposals were presented at these meetings for feedback. The changes included:

  • A change in the land use definitions for horse businesses
  • A new scalable system to determine the appropriate review process for businesses of different sizes and intensities
  • Changes to the improvement standards for these business facilities.

The recommendations are still preliminary and public input is needed. The information presented at these meetings is listed below:

June 2009 Meetings: Review Alternatives

The second set of public meetings was held on June 22 and June 25, 2009. The purposes of those meetings were to:

  • Provide a review of the goal and process of the Horse Business Facilities Regulations Study.
  • Present a summary of existing regulations.
  • Describe the progress toward developing recommended changes to the existing Code provisions.
  • Provide a forum for citizens to ask questions and provide input into the study.

Information from June Meetings

February 2009 Meetings: Study Process & Issues

The first set of public meetings was held on February 17, 2009, and February 19, 2009. The purposes of those meetings were to:

  • Explain why the County is studying horse business facility regulations
  • Present the study process and schedule
  • Discuss the desired outcomes of the study
  • Gather feedback regarding the process and study issues

Information from February Meetings