Council sides with horses over appeal by neighbors
By Nathan R. Huff
A horse is a horse, of course, of course. Unless, of course, that horse is in Los Gatos--then it becomes a commercial enterprise.
Or so argued the neighbors of a proposed horse-boarding and training facility on Shannon Road, who appealed the project's approval to the town council on Sept. 18. However, neighborhood fears of increased noise, traffic, odors and ugly aesthetics were not enough to persuade the council to overturn a planning commission decision that council members said exemplified the intent of the new General Plan. By a 4 to 1 vote, the horses had it.
Karen and Steve Trolan appealed the commission's decision, bringing to the council chambers a handful of neighbors with similar concerns. The property owners, William and Sandra Swietzer, brought their own contingent of supporters that included several neighbors, as well as a large group of equestrian enthusiasts.
The Swietzers defended their proposal to board 17 horses--four more than the planning commission approved--and to give dressage lessons and a monthly training clinic for four additional riders. The 25-acre property has long been used as a horse boarding facility; however, the facility has fallen into disrepair. The Swietzers argued that the many control measures--from sealed manure bins that are hauled off site to spraying for flies--will actually lessen the effect on neighbors in the small canyon.
Neighbors, who began shouting "how many of you live in Los Gatos?" when the Swietzers had supporters raise their hands, said the proposal would intensify land use in the area. They railed against the proposed 24,000-square-foot roofed arena that will be lit at night. That building, combined with the proposed caretaker's quarters and a 3,800-square-foot home, all within three acres, was too dense and would create too much noise, they said.
"Most of the supporters here are not neighbors," Beverly Weinman said, "and they have no interest other than the fact that they want a fancy stable."
Others said the argument that Shannon Road was a rural area was passe. Karen Trolan, who said she grew up in the valley and had run horse stables, said using the property as a commercial horse training enterprise was not appropriate.
"I've seen so many changes. It was open hills, it was orchards, and it was horse country," Trolan said. "Now it's a suburb. Now it's a residential neighborhood with large, beautiful homes on nice-size acreage."
But supporters, even non-equestrians, lauded the way the Swietzers had preserved close to 20 acres of the property as open hillside. Mike Burke, who said he lived in the general area, spoke as a member of the General Plan committee and task forces that recently completed the new General Plan.
"This project is the poster child of what we wanted to see," Burke said. "Open land, agricultural uses, a rural atmosphere--we're not talking about five Pepto-Bismo-flavored mini-mansions or anything like that."
Councilman Joe Pirzynski said he was equally pleased to have a chance to implement the new General Plan in such a strong way. "If we can preserve an equestrian corridor through there and perhaps even build on this," he said, "I think that goes to the heart of what the General Plan asks for."
The council majority agreed and even removed several of the planning commission's conditions to which the Swietzers had objected. Hours of operation were extended an hour, except on Saturdays and Sundays, and the council bumped the number of horses allowed up from 14 to 17. Council members also agreed to review the Swietzers' conditional use permit after one year.
Mayor Steve Blanton was the sole dissenter. He echoed neighbors' worries that, if the arena were abandoned, the property would be left with a behemoth structure similar to the former research and development building on Hicks that became Los Gatos Christian Church.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
