CU25-033 Staff Decision - Laserfiche WebLink

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The proposed expansion to the facility includes a new covered mental and behavioral health arena for year-round equine assisted therapy and equine assisted educational programming. Additionally, two freestanding buildings are proposed to serve as offices and therapeutic spaces for staff and clients. To be considered a commercial activity in conjunction with farm use, the latter buildings must be primarily a customer or supplier of farm uses. The applicant clarified that the structures are not going to be used for traditional (and thereby non-equine assisted) therapy which would be unrelated to agricultural activity. The purpose of the rooms is specifically to create safe and serene areas for clients who are experiencing duress during their equine assisted programing. Horses of Hope Oregon, who currently operates the commercial activity, has stated that no form of therapy or education is provided that is separate from equine involvement. Use of these structures for services that are separate or unrelated to the equine assisted therapy shall be prohibited as a condition of approval. The criterion is met. 2. The commercial activity must enhance the farming enterprises of the local agricultural community to which the land hosting that commercial activity relates. The activity enhances the farming enterprises by providing a unique service in which an established farm use, equine training and riding lessons, serves to treat a wide variety of mental illness in addition to general fostering of resilience and wellbeing. The proposed expansion if of a use that serves everyone from children with learning disabilities, to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorders. The commercial activity also relies on a volunteer program in which community members are engages in hands-on agricultural work which fosters appreciation for farming and animal husbandry. This proposal will expand an existing operation which is itself congruent with farm use and actively enhancing the local agricultural community with services not readily accessible otherwise. In addition to the unique equine therapy provided, the proposed commercial activity also benefits local farm operations. The manure produced by the horses is provided to a local nursey who processes the manure into fertilize for farm and garden uses. The commercial activity also benefits the adjacent vineyards by collaborating on trail rides where participants lean about vintner culture and agricultural practices. This collaboration directly benefits both farm operations. The criterion is met. 3. The agricultural and commercial activities must occur together in the local community to satisfy the statute. The proposed expansion and associated Equine Assisted Services will occur onsite, providing services to the local community. The criterion is met. 4. The products and services provided must be essential to the practice of agriculture. The services are essential aspects of agriculture, as defined in the equine uses listed in MCC 17.110.223 under “farm uses”. The services involve horse husbandry, pasture management, equine training and riding lessons. These services could not occur outside of a resource zone. The criterion is met. 8. In addition to the specific criteria above, the proposal must also satisfy the general conditional use criteria in MCC 17.139.060(A). Those requirements are: 1. The use will not force a significant change in, or significantly increase the cost of accepted farm or forest practices on surrounding lands devoted to farm or forest use. Land devoted to farm or forest use does not include farm or forest use on lots or parcels upon which a non-farm or non-forest dwelling has been approved and established, in exception areas approved under ORS 197.732, or in an acknowledged urban growth boundary. For purposes of this section, a determination of forcing a significant change in accepted farm or forest practices on surrounding lands devoted to farm and forest use or a determination of whether the use will significantly increase the cost of accepted farm or forest practices on surrounding lands devoted to farm or forest use requires: