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‘Horse Business Facilities’ Public Hearing, Monday May 24

[1]Larimer County, Colorado – The Larimer County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 24, 2010 at 6:30 p. m. in the Hearing Room at the Larimer County Courthouse Offices, 200 West Oak Street, Fort Collins, on proposed code amendments for horse business facilities in Larimer County. Since February 2009 a citizens Working Group has worked with the County on revisions to the current code requirements.

‘Horse business facilities’ include boarding stables, riding academies, riding stables, riding arenas, and equine event venues. The proposed code amendments are very similar to those proposed by the citizen’s Working Group in November 2009. County staff, the Planning Commission, and the Working Group worked with input from the Board of County Commissioners in 2010 to simplify and clarify the original recommendations. The proposed revisions are based on a scalable system, which matches the rigor of the County review process for horse businesses with the size of the equestrian operation.

For a limited time, a transition program will be offered to existing businesses to encourage compliance with the revised regulations. The transition program is intended to help existing horse businesses secure appropriate approvals. Key elements under consideration are review of existing horse boarding businesses using a simplified review process, reduced fees, and other considerations during the one year transition program to be announced.

The County has set up a web page to help distribute information about the proposed transition program and regulations at: www.larimer.org/horses/ [2], where you’ll find information on:

COMPARISON: Existing to Proposed Regulations Standards for Equestrian Operations Equestrian operation formula & chart Transition program Public Site Plan Review Proposed Land Use Regulations – Accessory Horse Keeping Proposed Land Use regulations – Equestrian Regulations

For further information, please contact Linda Hoffmann, Larimer County Planning and Building Services Division Director, (970) 498-7681, lhoffmann@larimer.org [3].