Planning looks at future of Horse District
The future of the Aiken's Horse District was the focus of a planning commission meeting on Thursday.
Commission members discussed and evaluated the need for zoning ordinance amendments to possibly limit the intensity of development on large tracts in the horse-training and historic areas. The commission opened the meeting to members of the audience and listened to their input on how zoning changes may impact the Horse District and Historic Area.
"The equestrian area is one of our crown jewels, and I think most people in this town feel it should be preserved and protected by all reasonable means," said Bill Reynolds, planning commission chairman. "City council has charged the planning commission, with evaluating how well our current ordinances protect our large tracts from over development."
The commission looked at three sample properties in the horse training/historic area and their current regulations - McGhee's Mile, the Aiken Training Track and an RSS zoned lot of 6-acres or more and the historic overlay. They identified what the use rights were, what uses are permitted and if someone wanted to deviate from the permissible uses, what procedures they would have to go through.
The horse district is intended for commercial horse operations, said Ed Evans, Aiken city planning director. Any residential use of the horse district requires the approval of the board of zoning appeals, he said. The amendments to the zoning ordinance to create the Horse District were made in 1996.
If there's an instance where someone is interested in allowing a use that's not permitted, and would like to rezone or amend the existing zoning ordinance, they must receive approval from the city council, after the use is reviewed by the planning commission, said Evans.
"Any request before BZA (board of zoning appeals) requires a public hearing and a public notice and posting of signs," said Evans.
Equine advisory commission chairman Lucy Knowles was among those who would like to see the Horse District protected and have the larger land tracts maintained as open space. Any division would be damaging, and the area's character would be lost, she said.
"I think we're all in agreement, the Horse District is the heart of Aiken and is very worthy of preservation," said Knowles.
Conservation easements could be another tool used to help protect and preserve the large tracts, which would in turn maintain the character of the area and the existing industry in the Horse District, said Dacre Stoker, Aiken Land Conservancy executive director. The zoning in the area needs to be more stringent, he said. Lower density, less vehicle circulation and limiting impervious surfaces, would be among the benefits if the area is preserved.
"We have to look out for the greater good of the community, and maintain the integrity for the good of the town," said Stoker.
Contact Ben Baugh at bbaugh@aikenstandard.com.