Windsor considers allowing horses on one-acre Estate Residential lots

The Windsor Town Board considered a proposal to allow horses and other large domestic animals on Estate Residential lots as small as one acre, down from the current 2.5-acre minimum.

The proposal would keep the limit of one animal per acre, allowing two animals on a two-acre lot, a staff member said. Applicable homeowners association and metropolitan district covenants and rules would still apply. Horses, ponies, mules, donkeys and llamas would qualify, with offspring allowed until weaning is complete.

The staff presentation says staff received multiple inquiries about keeping large domestic animals on Estate Residential lots. It also says a recent conditional-use permit was presented for goats, horses or both on a 1.47-acre Estate Residential lot. A staff member said the lot could keep one horse under the proposal. Another staff member said there might be a few other properties in similar circumstances, but not many.

Town Board Member Ron Steinbach said it seemed strange to change the code for one homeowner, though he was neither for nor against it. He said some homeowners associations might not restrict large animals because town code already barred them, citing acre lots in Acadia and Raindance but saying he did not know those associations’ rules. “So why put it in your HOA?” Steinbach said. Town Board Member Rick Klimek said he did not oppose the change but wanted the town to seek information from homeowners associations.

Land Use Code amendments require public hearings. The listed next steps are to schedule hearings before the Planning Commission and Town Board.