MHC Howard County

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Friday, July 19, 2013

Howard County meets with Ag & Equine Industry Leadership to Revise Zoning Proposal

Howard County meets with Ag & Equine Industry Leadership to Revise Zoning Proposal

Courtesy The Equiery: http://equiery.com/blog/?p=1800

Posted by Mythic Landing Enterprises, LLC at 1:14 PM

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Maryland Equine Census for Howard County

According to the 2010 Maryland Equine Census, there were 79,100 horses, ponies, mules, donkeys and burros in the state of Maryland on May 1, 2010, down 9 percent from the 87,100 on hand in 2002. Light Horse Breeds accounted for 50 percent of the total followed by Race Horse Breeds with 37 percent of the total. Ponies accounted for 7 percent of the total and Draft Horse Breeds and Donkeys, Mules and Burros each accounted for 3 percent of the total. The two largest equine counties in terms of inventory were Baltimore and Montgomery at 8,950 and 7,900 head, respectively.

The value of the equine inventory on May 1, 2010 was $714 million, up 5 percent from 2002. There were a total of 16,040 equine places throughout Maryland, down 21 percent from 2002. This includes boarding facilities, commercial and private breeding places, farms, commercial race related places as well as private residences where equine are being kept for recreational purposes. These equine operations accounted for a total of 587,000 acres of which 188,000 acres were devoted to equine.

The value of all equine related assets totaled $5.6 billion including the value of the inventory, up 8 percent from 2002. The value of land, fencing and buildings made up 74 percent of the total assets and the value of inventory accounted for 13 percent of the total assets. Total equine related expenditures spent in Maryland in calendar year 2009 amounted to just under $513 million of which 71 percent were operating expenditures and 29 percent were capital expenditures. Total equine expenditures are down 33 percent from 2002.

For Howard County ...

Total Equine Inventory: 4,350

Total Equine Inventory Owned: 3,220

Total Equine Inventory Boarded for Others: 1,130

Total Value of Equine Inventory: $35,881,000

Number of Equine Places: 1,020

Total Equine Related Acres: 8,900

Total Number of People Involved: 1,950

Total Assets (not including equine inventory value): $413,754,000

Total Capital Expenditures: $5,838,000

Zoning & Horses in Howard County

(1) “Agribusiness” is any commercial or industrial uses that are adjunct to the agricultural economy and may be permitted as a conditional use in the RC or RR Districts.

(2) “Agritourism Enterprise” includes activities conducted on a working farm and offered to the public or to invited groups for the purpose of recreation, education or active involvement in the farm operation. These activities must be related to agriculture or natural resources and incidental to the primary operation of the site. This definition includes farm tours, hay rides, corn mazes, classes related to agricultural products or skills, picnic and party facilities offered in conjunction with the above, and similar uses.

(3) A “Farm” is defined as a lot or parcel

(4) “Farming” is land used for agricultural purposes, including (among many types of uses) the breeding, raising, training, boarding, and general care of livestock for uses other than for food, such as sport or show purposes, as pets, or for recreation, and shall be considered a normal farming function (kennels are excluded from this definition).

(5) “Farm Tenant House” is an accessory detached building or mobile home that is:

a. Designed and arranged for use as a dwelling;

b. Located on a parcel of land not less than 50 acres used for farming;

c. One unit permitted per 25 acres of that parcel; and

d. Occupied by at least one person who is employed by the owner or operator of the farm on which the dwelling is located to engage in farming on a full- or part-time basis.

(6) “Riding Stable” and “Riding Academy” are any lot used primarily for the commercial hiring out of horses or ponies or instruction in riding where 3 or more horses are kept for these purposes. As a matter-of-right, stables and academies are permitted in POR, PEC, and PGCC districts. They are conditional permitted on preservation parcels. A conditional use for a Riding Stable or Academy may be granted in the RC or RR Districts, provided that:

a. Adequate areas for horseback riding shall be available on the site. If the operation will include off-site horseback riding, the petition must indicate the location of off-site trails and include written permission from the property owners.

b. Minimum required setbacks for stables and indoor or outdoor riding arenas:

(i)For a use where 20 or fewer horses are kept on the property, from any property line

other than a public street……………….100 feet

(ii) For a use where more than 20 horses are kept on the property, from any property line other than a public street………………200 feet

c. The site has a minimum area of 5 acres.

d. Parking areas, driveways and outdoor riding areas will be located and designed to shield neighboring properties from noise, dust and odors.

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