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<br />~ <br />~HILLS <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />September 24, 2007 <br /> <br />CC Agenda Item 7.A <br /> <br />TO: Mayor and City Council <br /> <br />FROM: James Lehnhoff, City Planner <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Zoning Code Definition Interpretation <br />Miniature Horse: Domestic Animal or Farm Animal <br /> <br />Requested Action <br /> <br />Motion to approve/deny a request to classify miniature horses as domestic animals as defined in <br />the Zoning Code. <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />In August 2007, Staff received a request to allow a miniature horse on a residential property. <br />Upon review of the City's Zoning Code, Staffs initial opinion was that miniature horses should <br />be classified as "farm animals" since horses are usually associated with farms instead of <br />residential areas. Farm animals are subject to certain setback regulations that greatly restrict the <br />ability of most properties to host farm animals (1325.07 Subd 7). If miniature horses are <br />classified as farm animals, the resident would not be able to have a miniature horse on her <br />property. However, the Zoning Code's definitions for domestic, farm, and wild animals do not <br />directly address miniature horses, and there is room for interpretation on the definitions for <br />animals. <br /> <br />Ms. Linders is requesting the City Council to review the definitions in the Zoning Code to <br />determine if miniature horses should be classified as domestic animals or farm animals. The <br />report to the Planning Commission and a supplementary letter with additional information from <br />Mr. Linders is also included (Attachment 7D-2 & 3). <br /> <br />Zoning Code <br /> <br />The definitions in Section 1305.04 of the Zoning Code for domestic, farm, and wild animal are <br />as follows: <br /> <br />City of Arden Hills <br />City Council Meetingfor September 24, 2007 <br /> <br /> <br />\\Metro-inet.uslardenhillslPlanningICity Council Memos\2007\Miniature Horses\092407 - Minature Horses - domestic animals.doc <br /> <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />