HELLO DHA MEMBERS:  THIS IS only one of a few emails that will be sent out regarding the latest developments regarding our horse properties and our trails.  As many of you heard at our most recent meeting, there are changes afoot and the need is very high for some very personal responses to the various ‘authorities’.  This one below is a Building/Planning Dept issue.   Read Deb’s letter that she sent me and feel free to write your own to the Development Services Dept of El Dorado County.  It seems from their website, that they divide Building and Planning, and both are part of Development Services.  The information is below the letter.   Personal hand written letters are often best.   Thanks for your help.   Pam Greer

It just so happened that I met with the Planning Department a few days ago regarding business licenses/special use permits for horse properties.  It was communicated to me that the Planning Department is reviewing use of horse properties.  Any possible changes might take several months to a year.  My guess is that this is no different than what occured in the Bay Area and other areas where populations have exploded and rural properties have been impacted.  More people move in to the area.  More complaints regarding smells, sounds, etc take place.  And it forces County offices to reconsider what they allow.  They are motivated by complaints.  That is the key.  What might be very helpful is the exact thing you are doing with the clinic regarding maintenance of horse properties.  People that want to remain in business etc must learn to be less obtrusive ... cleaner, quieter etc.  And we/they have to offer the community something.  My experience with Planning tells me that they have no business policing properties or looking for violations etc.  But they do have to respond to complaints.  And the greater response will win.

Since you are the communication department, just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents for what they are worth.  It's very important to "lobby" for horses, horsepeople/properties, but we also must take responsibility to reduce possible complaints.  That's a very general comment, certainly not specific to the Horvaths.  They maintain a very clean and responsible operation.  Hope this makes sense.  And I hope you understand I favor the rights of horse people.

Deb Peter
 

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Development Services of El Dorado County
2850 Fairlane Court, Building "C"
Placerville, CA 95667
Voice (530) 621-5775
FAX (530) 622-1708
From El Dorado Hills--(916) 358-3555 Ext 5775

Director, (530) 621-5445
Larry Lohman, Deputy Director/Building Official, (530) 621-5315
Lawrence Appel, Deputy Director/Planning, (530) 621-5355

planning@co.el-dorado.ca.us   -- Planning Services Dept

bldgdept@co.el-dorado.ca.us  --- Building Services Dept

Emergency - Property Rights Eroding

 Dear Fellow Equestrians and Property Owners:

 Last week we received the most shocking and upsetting news from the El Dorado County Planning Department.

 First, you must know, approximately four years ago, when we decided to board a small number of horses on our 12+ acre ranch, we developed an extensive business plan before doing so.  This plan included obtaining the REQUIRED business license and insurance.   We had (and still have) the following document on El Dorado County letterhead:

SUBJECT:  Planning Interpretation - Boarding of Horses

Over the years we have received many inquiries regarding the boarding of horses.  The following interpretation shall henceforth be the Department policy regarding such use:

Horses, without limit to number, may be boarded on any property zoned R3A, RE-5, RE-10, any RA district, or any agricultural zone.  Essentially this falls under the category of "raising and grazing of domestic farm animals/livestock...."  )Code Reference: R3A - 17.28.420(D), RE-5 - 17.28.190 (E), RE-10 - 17.70.090 (E), RA-20 - 17.30 030 (B) (1), A - 17.36.030 (B), AE - 17.36.070 (A), Pa - 17.36.130(D), SA-10 - 17.36.230(D).

A special use permit shall be required for any "commercial" use of the horses such as riding stables where the horses are rented for a period of time, arenas for other than the training of the horses by the owner of the property or owners of the horses or other similar uses which would generate excess noise or traffic.

Please note that some uses may be permitted under the ranch marketing activities that might otherwise require a special use permit.  These uses must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

With this document and the ESTATE RESIDENTIAL FIVE-ACRE (RE-5) ZONE DISTRICT in hand we applied for and we were granted our business license.  When we did so we were very specific about the fact that we had no desire to breed, train, lease, rent out, etc., etc.  Nor do we or would we ever own a stallion or board a stallion.  We strictly wanted to offer board and care to a small number of horses other than our own.  The business license type we were given by the County is 843 or "Ranches and Farms".  We have a separate insurance policy (in addition to our homeowners) called CARE CUSTODY AND CONTROL & GENERAL LIABILITY for our boarded horses.  Additionally, we have always raised registered sheep, are members of the El Dorado County  Farm Bureau and have a Federally recognized farm/ranch.  We occasionally donate our arena to one high school girl (a High School Rodeo member) at a time to have a barrel lesson (this makes their lesson much more affordable).  We have offered some instruction through Georgetown Divide Recreation District where a portion of the proceeds goes to GDRD.   Steve has also been a volunteer Firefighter/EMT with Garden Valley Fire Dist. for over 15 years.   We have renewed our business license each year, have claimed every dollar we have earned and pay our taxes.   We have really enjoyed operating our horse boarding business these past four years, offering quality horse care and vacation boarding to many local horse owners here on the "Divide".

Now to the shocking news we received last week.  The El Dorado County Planning Department is currently reviewing and revising various codes and zoning ordinances which (once revised) will affect your property rights.  The document above (in blue print) is going to be changed, we were told by Pierre Rivas, Principle Planner, El Dorado County Planning Dept.  to now read in part:

A special use permit shall be required for any "commercial" use of the horses such as riding stables where the horses are rented for a period of time, arenas for other than the training of the horses by the owner of the property or other similar uses which would generate excess noise or traffic.

Five little words are going to be deleted from the original paragraph and they are: or owners of the horses.

If this revision is made, the owners of the horses boarded at our ranch will no longer be able to ride in our 100 x 200 sand riding arena, round pen, etc.  and in fact will not be able to sit on their horse anywhere on our property.  This will apply to all property owners who may want to operate a business such as ours (on any scale).  This is absolutely the most outrageous, ridiculous and completely unacceptable thing I've ever heard!  An owner could saddle up, and lead their horse to public trail access but not ride their horse across our property to access the trail. 

We are told there are other codes and zoning ordinances currently be reviewed and revised.  I'm very concerned that we property and horse owners in particular, residing in El Dorado County, are asleep behind the wheel.   It doesn't take a crystal ball to look into the future and see our way of life slowly disappearing

Please contact the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, District IV Supervisor Ron Briggs at bosfour@co.el-dorado.ca.us and voice your objections to this and other revisions being made without your knowledge or approval.  We need to know exactly what the process is in regards to these revisions being made.  You can log onto the El Dorado County web site to obtain contact information for Supervisors, etc.    You can also e-mail the El Dorado County Agricultural Commission at eldcag@co.el-dorado.ca.us

Also, we were shown a great web site today www.pacificlegal.org which talks about the slow erosion taking place today all over this country in regards to property rights.  Check it out and file your complaint with them as well.

Thank you,

Claudette & Steve Horvath, Owners

Rock'n H Ranch

Greenwood, California