Frazer to consider changing zoning ordinance to allow horses in certain large residential properties

A couple is interested in putting horses on a 24-acre property in Frazer and is asking the supervisors to amend the township’s zoning ordinance so they can.

Frazer doesn’t allow agricultural operations on properties within its two residential moderate density (RM) zoning districts. Keeping horses is considered as an agricultural operation.

The couple, who officials identified as David Stubbs and Mara Rice-Stubbs, want to have horses on the property located at 2510 Butler-Logan Road, which is in one of those districts.

The township supervisors will hold a public hearing and potentially vote to amend the ordinance Dec. 3. The proposed amendment would allow agricultural operations on properties larger than 15 acres as a conditional use in the RM districts.

Township Supervisor Lori Ziencik said only 25% of the properties in the RM districts are big enough to have agricultural operations.

The property that prompted the potential change is surrounded by farms.

““In the areas that are in the RM district that possibly would request to have horses or agricultural operations, there are some very large property owners that it would not affect the neighboring houses,” Ziencik said.

The Stubbs couldn’t be reached for comment.

The number of horses one could have is restricted by the size of the property. No more than one horse is allowed on the first five acres. After that, one additional horse is allowed for each additional acre.

The amendment also would require:

• Livestock and poultry must be fenced in, and any fence must be at least 10 feet away from the property line.

• No other structure or use, except a single-family house and agricultural accessory structures, like a barn, would be allowed at the site.

• If the property owner sets up a roadside stand, it can sell only items produced onsite; it would have to have 10 off-street parking places.

• Any structure such as a barn must be at least 50 feet from any residential property line.

If the amendment passes, people who fit the criteria and want to have agricultural operations on their property would need to apply for conditional use which would then need to be approved by the supervisors.

“They’ll have to meet the property requirements,” Ziencik said.