Planning Commission continues Bonsall horse barn appeal

An appeal of an Administrative Permit for a pair of horse barns on a Bonsall property has been continued to February 9.

The county’s Planning Commission was initially scheduled to hear the appeal on January 26, but both sides as well as the Planning Commission itself sought a continuance in order to evaluate late items.

“We do recognize a substantial amount of material has been submitted. We do not object to the continuance,” said land use attorney William Schwartz, who is representing neighbors Jaime and Dawne Clayton in their appeal of the barn on the property of David and Annette Puchta.

The material received in the week prior to the January 26 hearing date included a transcript of the Zoning Administrator decision approving the barns. Zoning Administrator Rose Garduno had approved the Administrative Permit on November 28 after including conditions which would ensure that the Puchtas would use the barn only for their own horses and not for breeding or boarding. A Major Use Permit would be required for breeding or boarding facilities on the site, but only an Administrative Permit is required for construction of a barn exceeding the by-right size for an accessory building.

The Puchtas’ 5.21-acre property in the 31900 block of Aqueduct Road near the intersection of Calle de Telar has A70 agricultural zoning. Barns and agricultural storage buildings are permitted in agriculturally zoned areas, but the maximum accessory building size is based on parcel size and a parcel between five and six acres is allowed 2,200 square feet by right. Additional area, as well as any height beyond that allowed by right, may be allowed by the issuance of an Administrative Permit after notice to all contiguous property owners and findings to support the additional structure area.

The Puchtas have proposed an 11,520 square foot barn which would include 40 stalls and a second story for hay storage on the western portion of the site and a 6,177 square foot barn near the southeastern portion of the site which would include 20 stalls, a hay and equipment storage area, and a tack and buggy storage area. The Puchtas, who show saddlebred horses, also plan to build two riding arenas which would include cut and fill of approximately 12,000 cubic yards of material.