Are equestrian businesses part of farming, and so allowed by right in the Agricultural Reserve? Or should they require a special exception to operate?
Park and Planning took up discussion of the Zoning Text Amendment which would classify horses as agriculture at its Sept. 25 meeting.
The Commission recommended some changes to the amendment sponsored by County Councilmember Steven Silverman (D-At Large).
“We recommended that riding stables [now called equestrian facilities] with minimal impact be permitted by right,” said Park and Planning Chair Derick Berlage.
The Planning Board proposed four triggers which would require an equestrian facility to get a Special Exception.
* Facilities with more than 50 horses
* Facilities which hold more than 12 events annually
* Facilities will be allowed to have one outdoor, lighted arena by right. More would require an exception. The Planning Board did not define the size of an outdoor arena.
* Lighted polo fields would always require a special exception.
Silverman introduced the amendment to clarify when an equestrian facility would require a Special Exception. The issue came to light when a facility called Green Acres on Partnership Road applied for such an exception.
The Board of Appeals decided that it did not have the right to grant an exception in this case, leaving the Green Acres project in limbo.
The ordinance also sets minimum lot sizes for different numbers of horses, and clarifies that only pasture land may be counted, not forest or stream valleys. It also sets setback requirements.
The changes apply primarily to facilities in the Agricultural Reserve, and would not impact Potomac substantially.