Planning Commission Packet - May 28, 2024

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The Elk River Vision A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity Request for Action To Planning Commission Item Number 5.2 Meeting Date May 28, 2024 Prepared By Chris Leeseberg, Senior Planner Item Description Conditional Use Permit: Agricutlural Animals on a Residential Lot, 20373 Vance St. NW - Katie Bedbury Reviewed by: Zack Carlton Action Requested Recommend, by motion, approval of the Conditional Use Permit with the following conditions to satisfy the standards set forth in Section 30-654: 1. A Manure Management Plan must be approved by the city. 2. No more than two (2) agricultural animal units shall be allowed on the property. 3. If the city finds that the manure and other waste materials create a nuisance by attracting flies, other insects, rodents, or by creating offensive odors, the city may order the manure and other waste materials be removed on a more frequent schedule. 4. No on-site commercial activities such as breeding, boarding, or selling shall be permitted. Background/Discussion The property owner, Katie Bedbury, is requesting a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to keep two agricultural animals (horses) in 1-1 ½ acres of fenced pastureland. The property is 3.32 acres and is in the Single Family Residential (R1-a) zoning district. Approximately half of the property (east end) is covered with woods. Agricultural animals are permitted under Section 30-803 of the city code which limits the keeping of agricultural animals to one animal unit per acre of fenced pastureland. The applicant is requesting more than one horse per fenced acre of pastureland (2/1.5 acres). The total number of allowed animal units per acre may be increased, provided there is an approved manure management plan following the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Technical Guidelines for Manure Management and Applications. Such approval may be obtained through this CUP process. The applicant is requesting more than one horse per fenced acre of pastureland (2/1.5 acres), so a manure management plan is required, or they can expand the fenced area to 2 acres and forego the plan. The applicant stated manure will be removed 4 times per year and brought off site to a farm. The city’s environmental staff will continue to review the plan and recommend the necessary changes. Section 30-803 also states that all agricultural animals shall be provided a shelter appropriately sized to accommodate the specific animal in a humane manner. The applicant is proposing a 144 sq.ft. (12’x12’) 3-sided Page 32 of 71