Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Puchta withdraws permit ap.

David Puchta has signed a document authorizing withdrawal of his application for an Administrative Permit to build a pair of horse barns in Bonsall.

Puchta signed the withdrawal agreement April 2. The withdrawal vacates the approval of the Administrative Permit which had been approved November 28 but which had been appealed.

David and Annette Puchta had proposed an 11,520 square foot barn including 40 stalls – 28 of which would be used for horses and the remainder for storage of tack and other equipment – and a second story for hay storage on the western portion of the site along with a 6,177 square foot barn near the southeastern portion of the site which would have included 20 stalls, a hay and equipment storage area, and a tack and buggy storage area. The Puchtas, who show saddlebred horses, also planned to build two riding arenas which would include cut and fill of approximately 12,000 cubic yards of material.

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 (the Puchtas’ property in the 31900 block of Aqueduct Road near the intersection of Calle de Telar consists of 5.21 acres).

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. 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.

Neighbors Jaime and Dawne Clayton objected to the size of the project and fought the efforts during the public hearing process. On December 6 the Claytons appealed the Zoning Administrator’s decision to the Planning Commission, putting the

Administrative Permit on hold pending resolution of the appeal. The Planning Commission twice continued the item, setting up a March 9 hearing. At that March hearing David Puchta announced plans to withdraw the application for an Administrative Permit, although since the permit had been granted and it was the appeal being decided the Planning Commission continued the issue once again with the decision that the next hearing should include documentation signed by Puchta that he is withdrawing his application for an Administrative Permit.

At the April 6 Planning Commission meeting, it was determined that the Planning Commission did not need to take further action on the withdrawal of the Administrative Permit. The withdrawal agreement does not prevent Puchta, or future owners of the Aqueduct Road property, from applying for future approvals.

The withdrawal of their Administrative Permit application gives the Puchtas three possible courses of future action. Since their property has A70 agricultural zoning and an “L” designator, no permit would be needed to house the horses in pipe corrals. The Puchtas can apply for a Major Use Permit, which would include environmental studies and likely would include conditions of approval. The third option would be for the Puchtas to abandon plans to expand their horsekeeping operation. The Puchtas have not yet publicly stated their future plans.

The withdrawal agreement stipulates that no building permit or other approval shall be issued for the construction of the oversized horse barns and that all future construction and use of the property shall be in full compliance with all building, zoning, and other applicable laws and requirements.

 

Reader Comments(0)