RECREATION AND EQUESTRIAN COALITION LEGISLATIVE
ALERT
On Tuesday, October 26, the anti-horse people will make another
attempt in their ongoing effort to get rid of horses and equestrian activities
in one area of the County. The Board of Supervisors will consider adopting
a new ridgeline and grading ordinance that will severely limit the addition of
equestrian facilities, corrals, barns, etc. to both existing and new single
family residential development in the Santa Monica Mountains.
If
this targeted effort is successful here, the entire county will be affected and
endangered, including your neighborhood. Your supervisor will not be able to
undo the precedent, especially if he or she has already voted for this
proposal.
The County tried to ban horses with the RRL amendments to the
zoning several years ago. That didn't work! Then they tried to
banish horses with water quality regulations. That didn't work when the
science didn't support their contentions. Now, they are trying to phase
out horses by eliminating the ability to provide the necessary support
facilities such as barns, corrals and riding rings. It is a devious and
unjustified attack on our rural lifestyle.
This proposed ordinance would
require a Conditional Use Permit ($10,000 to $40,000) for any equestrian
improvement that grades more that 15,000 square feet of area or moves more than
5,000 cubic yards of dirt. It would invalidate "by right" agricultural
uses. Horse keeping is one of the last historic and cultural activities
still allowed in the Santa Monica Mountains. This would effectively
eliminate that historic resource.
Although this proposed ordinance
may not affect you directly, it would be a major devastation to your fellow
equestrians in the Santa Monica Mountains. Remember that Congress designated
that area a National RECREATION Area, and yet recreational facilities would not
be a permitted use under this ordinance. In addition, the Board of
Supervisors would break a promise they made when they passed the North Area Plan
that "existing lots are not affected, and may be developed following current
development requirements regardless of lot size." So, you would not be
able to build horse facilities, which are an agricultural use and permitted in
an agricultural zone, without a CUP. Why should we need a CUP for agricultural /
equestrian facilities for horses in an agricultural zone?
While
the initial application may be $4478, that does not include the county's other
required reports and the costs spiral for the attendant paperwork - 19 items
(site plan review, site inspection fee, topography report, site survey, geology
report, landscape plans, slope analysis, archeology report, biological study,
fish & game fee, zoning enforcement fee, fuel modification plan, inventory
of site plants & animals, tree protection report, drainage & runoff
control plan, water quality mitigation plan, storm water management plan,
mitigation monitoring program fee, polluted runoff management plan for
agricultural & confined animal facility)
Further, the grading of 5000
cu.yds. really means that only 2500 cu.yds. of dirt can be moved without a CUP;
the county counts 2500 cu yds twice- once as cut and again as fill, even though
it's the same dirt moved to another place on the land. Keep in mind that the
15,000 sq.ft of grading allowed is tiny, since it includes the house, driveway
and anything else, including horse facilities. We all know that corrals,
barns, outbuildings, round pens, and other facilities & structures all need
graded pads.
Fellow Equestrians, we need your support
to help save the equestrian community in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Imagine if they tried to apply the same rules in your neighborhood. Not
only would it be difficult to sell or refinance your property, it would be
impossible for a new neighbor to build the same equestrian facilities that you
now enjoy. How can that be justified?
Please plan to attend the
Board of Supervisors' meeting on October 26th at 9:30am to voice your
concerns. Also, send your thoughts and comments to the Supervisors
at: FAX Gloria Molina Molina@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 213-613-1739
Yvonne Burke Seconddistrict@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 213-680-3283 Zev Yaroslavsky
zev@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 213-625-7360 Don Knabe
Don@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 213-626-6941 Michael
Antonovich Mantonovich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 213-974-1010
Thank you for
your help at this critical time. Even if you can only attend the hearing
for just a short while, that will make a difference having you physically
there. We appreciate whatever support you can give us.
Thanks.
