02/11/2015 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

In the fall of 2013, and before building the fence and horse shack, we talked with our closest neighbors (three to the south and four to the north) regarding our desire to house horses on the newly purchased property. We believe we had a good and open relationship with all of them and explained our objectives, and received no verbal objections from any of them. In late spring of 2014 (due to the high water levels), we installed the fence (150' by 200 feet in the front pen that is at least 100 feet off the highway and a second adjacent pen 160' by 200' in the middle of the property) and built a 20' by 20' temporary shelter for food storage, saddles and open cover areas for the horses in inclement weather. There is no electricity or water source to the building. Once the fence and shelter were completed in early June, we started housing three horses on the property. Since then, the girls have participated in 4H events multiple times per week throughout the summer. On weekends, they take the horses to the North Branch area to ride on local trails. The short term intent is to have the horses housed on the local property during the April through October time frame, which is the height of the 4H activities season. In September of 2014, we received notice from Lino Lakes regarding the need for permits to install fences and a building. This notice was initiated (per Katie Larsen) from a complaint filed to the city offices. No formal notification of the complaint was provided to us. The notice from the city also informed us that the fence and building may not be allowed per city code. Since then, we have filled out the necessary permit applications and met with Patrick Moonen and Katie Larsen to discuss these issues. They informed us that the animals were not allowed within residential zoned areas and are trying to work with the city to find a solution that can satisfy all. In late September, 2014, Carol called the police department and left a message inquiring of our desire to have the goats and horses on our property, leaving a phone number, address and acreage for the two combined lots (eight). She stated that she had called in March of 2013 with this same request. On October I", Carol received a response from Kate Croteau, CSO, who told her that she needed to get a dog license for our puppies (they escaped a fence and were picked up and taken to a dog pound on September 281h). She then told Carol that it was fine for us to have the goats and horses on our property and that we were zoned rural and said she had a record of her call from March 2013. She also said any further questions regarding this should be directed to Katie Larson in zoning. A few days later Carol received the mail applications for the dog tags and Ms Croteau's business card. We have since been told that Lino Lakes' definition of residential property is "Land to be zoned R-1 shall be served with public sanitary sewer and water." The word "intended" is also used within the definition. This seems vague without a substantial plan to provide these services. At this time, there are no formal plans to provide services along Lake Drive in the foreseeable future (via the 2030 zoning map). Therefore, it seems fair to consider this a rural area currently.