edward
07-29-2009, 11:33 PM
13) Please notify the Planning and Development Department that I am opposed to the proposed text amendment. I do not want horse boarding and events in my neighborhood. We like our neighborhood just the way it is!
We are horse owners but I feel the commercial aspect of the TA is not good for our area.
The increased noise, traiffic, dust and flies would have a negative effect on our peace and quiet plus I think this kind of activity would also affect my property value.
Please keep me informed of future meetings regarding this TA.
Tom Wilshire
Cave Creek, AZ
14) RE: TA2008006
I am against this Text Amendment as written. It is detrimental to the peaceful enjoyment of our rural residential neighborhoods. It is THE sole purpose of moving my family here in 2003 !!
Michelann Charla
Desert Hill's / N. Phoenix, AZ
15) June 15, 2009
I've read over your proposed text amendment #2008006 and think it's just absurd. Why would anyone ever allow commercial activity of this kind in our residential neighborhoods?
I am strongly opposed to this change. The repercussions for the future are tremendous. Lessons, horse shows and rodeo events being conducted on our quiet street? Just the noise and dust alone would drive most of our current residents away.
I feel like you are trying to drive us out of our homes just to benefit a few horse owners who want more that what they are entitled to.
When we came here it was because we could have our horses and enjoy a peaceful rural lifestyle - please do not spoil our investment. I Vote NO on the TA#2008006
Arlene Herrera, Phoenix, AZ
16) I am vehemently opposed to the proposed Text Amendment #2008006 because of the adverse affects it will have on the R-43 neighborhoods in Maricopa County.
Horse ownership and the keeping of other livestock in these areas may currently be a privilege, but the granting of additional rights to commercial activity which infringes upon the peaceful enjoyment of your neighbors is just plain wrong.
After attending just two meetings on the subject, it has become apparent that the protection of our rural lifestyle is NOT the goal of this TA. The MCZO already has these protections in place in the form of the SUP and TUP processes. By reviewing each individual request for such permits, the neighboring parcel owners can have a voice in the decision making process while having a clear understanding of the petitioner's impact on them personally. The TA's back-door approach to converting all of our neighborhoods into "limited" commercial districts is incongruous at best.
Why not remove any and all reference to the terms "public" and "commercial" in the TA? There should be no need to specifically word the TA to show that a resident may hold a family member's livestock on their premises for recreational purposes only - as it is already allowed. Specifically word the TA to exclude any activities in which money exchanges hands (commercial). If the supporters of this amendment are truly interested in merely preserving their ability to have their friends and family over to ride, rope, etc. or for 4-H; this would cover those activities. The rest can be handled by SUP or TUP.
A TA of this kind would simply be an opportunity for the current law breakers to be rewarded for their activities which continue to remain unpunished by the County Zoning Compliance Department. It is unthinkable to me as to why the County has even considered this TA. Perhaps there needs to be some internal departmental brain-storming as to how you could adjust the SUP and TUP processes to accommodate this need.
Certainly any of these suggestions would be a better option than destroying the quiet rural lifestyle of the entire County.
Noreen Hart
Desert Hills resident and horse owner
17) RE: TA2008006
I am against this Text Amendment as written. It is detrimental to the peaceful enjoyment of our rural residential neighborhoods.
Jarae D. Taylor
Phoenix, AZ - horse owner
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
18) As you all know, I don't usually call on folks to speak out against something; but this item has started to circulate throughout the equine community here in Arizona and is being met with significant outrage...and rightly so.
The Maricopa County Zoning Department is pushing a text amendment where by the R-43 parcels (mostly 1 acre lots) in unincorporated Maricopa County will be extended certain rights not already allowed.
In particular, although these are all parcels which allow horses and farm animals such as in my neighborhood; property owners would need to secure a Special Use Permit to engage in any type of commercial activity - boarding, lessons, training, etc. The reason such a Permit is required is that activities of this sort require management of manure, dust, noise, traffic, etc and the County will notify the surrounding property owners to see if anyone will be adversely affected by such disturbances.
Certain members of the horse community are asking that the entire County be exempt from the Permit process because it is both costly and time consuming to obtain. I see their point... However, the process was put in place to help protect the rural lifestyle, enjoyment of one's private property, traffic control and our property values.
One request from the petitioners is that the County allow ANYONE to have horse shows, clinics and rodeos on their property. Keep in mind that most of the R-43 parcels in Maricopa County are only one acre. This is certainly yet another example of how our representatives aren't thinking things through.
You may think that this doesn't apply to you ---
You live outside Maricopa County...your County could be next! Don't let them get this to use as precedence
You live in the city...are you sure those quiet parcels nearby aren't County R-43?
You're looking at buying your own place soon...how will your appraiser get good comps for your loan?
Or worse...what if the previous owner was doing lessons and now the parcel is legally classified as commercial? how will you get a loan?
Already have a business...how will you compete with facilities that have no overhead and don't have to meet the standards you do? Maybe this affects your neighborhood now!
Imagine if you will - you are quietly enjoying a cup of coffee on your back patio on a Sunday morning which is suddenly interrupted by your neighbor who has decided to give lessons to 10 young children. They are excited to ride, and are laughing and talking loudly amongst themselves and their Mom & Dad who also have their siblings in tow. Now that your quiet Sunday is disrupted, you and your husband decide to go to breakfast instead. But as you are trying to leave your driveway you realize that one of the parents has blocked in your driveway by mistake. After searching for 30 minutes for the right owner -- Sure, they'll move their car for you but you still find that the many cars and vans parked up and down your street have made passage nearly impossible. So you decide to eat indoors and ignore the noise. Finally, silence. Or so you thought! It's now time for the next group of kids to ride and the process starts all over again - all day long.
It could be worse - it could be a full blown gymkhana with folks shouting and whistling to cheer the riders on to victory. Or a bunch or rowdy guys roping until midnight or just a clinician using a megaphone. Of course, that would be 10+ trucks and trailers with horses tied to the sides up and down your street.
Skirting the existing rules for commercial activities doesn't seem to make sense at all. But they are trying -- once they pass this what will be next? stores? restaurants? Even the cities of Chandler, Gilbert, Buckeye, Tolleson, Avondale and Glendale have already expressed their opposition to this issue to the County Zoning Dept. - but they are moving forward with it regardless! This is outrageous! Sorry, but even as a avid horsewoman I did not sign up for this in my neighborhood.
Next year when the economy gets better and you want to sell your home you will have trouble getting comps. Because all your neighbor's properties will have been re-assessed as mixed use (misc. commercial) due to their activities (I confirmed this with the County tax assessor this afternoon) and you can no longer use that as a comp for your residential parcel. This is madness.
Please email the parties below and let them know you don't want horse shows, rodeos and the noise, dust and traffic that comes with them in your neighborhood. Let them know you are OPPOSED TO TA-2008-006 !! It's urgent that you do this as soon as possible - the secretary can only take letters received on or before Tuesday to the meeting on Thursday. Also, please forward the letters to me so I can bring them with me and hand deliver them in case they did not make it in time.
Darren Gerard, Deputy Director, Planning & Zoning darrengerard@mail.maricopa.gov
Charles Hart, Principal Planner charleshart@mail.maricopa.gov
Mark Wheaton, Senior Planner markwheaton@mail.maricopa.gov
Glenn Bak, Planner (guy in charge of this mess) Glennbak@mail.maricopa.gov
Eric Smith, Planner ericsmith@mail.maricopa.gov
Noreen Hart
We are horse owners but I feel the commercial aspect of the TA is not good for our area.
The increased noise, traiffic, dust and flies would have a negative effect on our peace and quiet plus I think this kind of activity would also affect my property value.
Please keep me informed of future meetings regarding this TA.
Tom Wilshire
Cave Creek, AZ
14) RE: TA2008006
I am against this Text Amendment as written. It is detrimental to the peaceful enjoyment of our rural residential neighborhoods. It is THE sole purpose of moving my family here in 2003 !!
Michelann Charla
Desert Hill's / N. Phoenix, AZ
15) June 15, 2009
I've read over your proposed text amendment #2008006 and think it's just absurd. Why would anyone ever allow commercial activity of this kind in our residential neighborhoods?
I am strongly opposed to this change. The repercussions for the future are tremendous. Lessons, horse shows and rodeo events being conducted on our quiet street? Just the noise and dust alone would drive most of our current residents away.
I feel like you are trying to drive us out of our homes just to benefit a few horse owners who want more that what they are entitled to.
When we came here it was because we could have our horses and enjoy a peaceful rural lifestyle - please do not spoil our investment. I Vote NO on the TA#2008006
Arlene Herrera, Phoenix, AZ
16) I am vehemently opposed to the proposed Text Amendment #2008006 because of the adverse affects it will have on the R-43 neighborhoods in Maricopa County.
Horse ownership and the keeping of other livestock in these areas may currently be a privilege, but the granting of additional rights to commercial activity which infringes upon the peaceful enjoyment of your neighbors is just plain wrong.
After attending just two meetings on the subject, it has become apparent that the protection of our rural lifestyle is NOT the goal of this TA. The MCZO already has these protections in place in the form of the SUP and TUP processes. By reviewing each individual request for such permits, the neighboring parcel owners can have a voice in the decision making process while having a clear understanding of the petitioner's impact on them personally. The TA's back-door approach to converting all of our neighborhoods into "limited" commercial districts is incongruous at best.
Why not remove any and all reference to the terms "public" and "commercial" in the TA? There should be no need to specifically word the TA to show that a resident may hold a family member's livestock on their premises for recreational purposes only - as it is already allowed. Specifically word the TA to exclude any activities in which money exchanges hands (commercial). If the supporters of this amendment are truly interested in merely preserving their ability to have their friends and family over to ride, rope, etc. or for 4-H; this would cover those activities. The rest can be handled by SUP or TUP.
A TA of this kind would simply be an opportunity for the current law breakers to be rewarded for their activities which continue to remain unpunished by the County Zoning Compliance Department. It is unthinkable to me as to why the County has even considered this TA. Perhaps there needs to be some internal departmental brain-storming as to how you could adjust the SUP and TUP processes to accommodate this need.
Certainly any of these suggestions would be a better option than destroying the quiet rural lifestyle of the entire County.
Noreen Hart
Desert Hills resident and horse owner
17) RE: TA2008006
I am against this Text Amendment as written. It is detrimental to the peaceful enjoyment of our rural residential neighborhoods.
Jarae D. Taylor
Phoenix, AZ - horse owner
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
18) As you all know, I don't usually call on folks to speak out against something; but this item has started to circulate throughout the equine community here in Arizona and is being met with significant outrage...and rightly so.
The Maricopa County Zoning Department is pushing a text amendment where by the R-43 parcels (mostly 1 acre lots) in unincorporated Maricopa County will be extended certain rights not already allowed.
In particular, although these are all parcels which allow horses and farm animals such as in my neighborhood; property owners would need to secure a Special Use Permit to engage in any type of commercial activity - boarding, lessons, training, etc. The reason such a Permit is required is that activities of this sort require management of manure, dust, noise, traffic, etc and the County will notify the surrounding property owners to see if anyone will be adversely affected by such disturbances.
Certain members of the horse community are asking that the entire County be exempt from the Permit process because it is both costly and time consuming to obtain. I see their point... However, the process was put in place to help protect the rural lifestyle, enjoyment of one's private property, traffic control and our property values.
One request from the petitioners is that the County allow ANYONE to have horse shows, clinics and rodeos on their property. Keep in mind that most of the R-43 parcels in Maricopa County are only one acre. This is certainly yet another example of how our representatives aren't thinking things through.
You may think that this doesn't apply to you ---
You live outside Maricopa County...your County could be next! Don't let them get this to use as precedence
You live in the city...are you sure those quiet parcels nearby aren't County R-43?
You're looking at buying your own place soon...how will your appraiser get good comps for your loan?
Or worse...what if the previous owner was doing lessons and now the parcel is legally classified as commercial? how will you get a loan?
Already have a business...how will you compete with facilities that have no overhead and don't have to meet the standards you do? Maybe this affects your neighborhood now!
Imagine if you will - you are quietly enjoying a cup of coffee on your back patio on a Sunday morning which is suddenly interrupted by your neighbor who has decided to give lessons to 10 young children. They are excited to ride, and are laughing and talking loudly amongst themselves and their Mom & Dad who also have their siblings in tow. Now that your quiet Sunday is disrupted, you and your husband decide to go to breakfast instead. But as you are trying to leave your driveway you realize that one of the parents has blocked in your driveway by mistake. After searching for 30 minutes for the right owner -- Sure, they'll move their car for you but you still find that the many cars and vans parked up and down your street have made passage nearly impossible. So you decide to eat indoors and ignore the noise. Finally, silence. Or so you thought! It's now time for the next group of kids to ride and the process starts all over again - all day long.
It could be worse - it could be a full blown gymkhana with folks shouting and whistling to cheer the riders on to victory. Or a bunch or rowdy guys roping until midnight or just a clinician using a megaphone. Of course, that would be 10+ trucks and trailers with horses tied to the sides up and down your street.
Skirting the existing rules for commercial activities doesn't seem to make sense at all. But they are trying -- once they pass this what will be next? stores? restaurants? Even the cities of Chandler, Gilbert, Buckeye, Tolleson, Avondale and Glendale have already expressed their opposition to this issue to the County Zoning Dept. - but they are moving forward with it regardless! This is outrageous! Sorry, but even as a avid horsewoman I did not sign up for this in my neighborhood.
Next year when the economy gets better and you want to sell your home you will have trouble getting comps. Because all your neighbor's properties will have been re-assessed as mixed use (misc. commercial) due to their activities (I confirmed this with the County tax assessor this afternoon) and you can no longer use that as a comp for your residential parcel. This is madness.
Please email the parties below and let them know you don't want horse shows, rodeos and the noise, dust and traffic that comes with them in your neighborhood. Let them know you are OPPOSED TO TA-2008-006 !! It's urgent that you do this as soon as possible - the secretary can only take letters received on or before Tuesday to the meeting on Thursday. Also, please forward the letters to me so I can bring them with me and hand deliver them in case they did not make it in time.
Darren Gerard, Deputy Director, Planning & Zoning darrengerard@mail.maricopa.gov
Charles Hart, Principal Planner charleshart@mail.maricopa.gov
Mark Wheaton, Senior Planner markwheaton@mail.maricopa.gov
Glenn Bak, Planner (guy in charge of this mess) Glennbak@mail.maricopa.gov
Eric Smith, Planner ericsmith@mail.maricopa.gov
Noreen Hart