P&Z Approves Private Horse Farm For Taunton Hill

By Andrew Gorosko

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have unanimously approved a proposal to develop an elaborate private horse farm, known as RCG Farm at Taunton Hill, for property at 38 Taunton Hill Road.

P&Z members approved the application on November 3 following a public hearing on a requested special permit for the project. The owner of the site is Taunton Hill Road, LLC.

In a real estate market study provided to the P&Z by the applicant, appraiser Christopher Kerin states that the “horse farm will have no negative impact [on the] market value of neighboring properties and will not change the character of the subject neighborhood.” The site lies generally west of the intersection of Taunton Lane and Taunton Hill Road.

The 15-acre site holds an approximately 4,000-square-foot house constructed in 1784. The property also contains a recently built nearly 2,000-square-foot storage barn, which has an office located above it.

A grand prix horse field has been constructed on the site which has FR-2 (Farming-Residential) zoning.

The planned project would include the construction of a horse barn, an indoor riding arena, and a blacksmith’s building.

The two-story horse barn would enclose about 17,400 square feet of space. The building could house about 20 horses. It would include horse stalls, a tack room, a trophy room, offices, storage space, and two apartments for workers, among other facilities.

The two-story arena building would enclose approximately 23,775 square feet of space, including a horse riding area and an upper-level observation room.

In information submitted to the P&Z, Taunton Hill Road, LLC, states that when construction is complete, the facility will be used a private horse farm and will not be open to the public for horse boarding. No public events would be held at the site. An outdoor horse riding area would not be illuminated.

Also, a buffer zone of mature trees would be maintained along the perimeter of the property to visually shield it from neighboring properties.

Attorney Peter Scalzo, representing Taunton Hill LLC, told P&Z members that the applicant owns nearby abutting land that brings the overall size of the equine site up to about 29 acres, according to P&Z records.

Architect Peter Paulos of PH Architects, representing the applicant, said that as part of the project, an existing house at 46 Taunton Hill Road would be demolished and be replaced with a vegetable garden. Also, he described how horse manure would be managed at the site.

 

Public Comment

Several residents from the neighborhood spoke at the public hearing that preceded the P&Z’s approval of the application, according to P&Z records.

Joseph Skrzypczak of 48 Taunton Hill Road asked about the use of chemicals at the site, whether horses would be bred there, and about irrigation.

Barry Persky of 31 Taunton Lane said that activity at the site has had some adverse effects on the area.

Jane Stadler, of the same address, raised issues concerning noise, dust and dirt, noting that past construction work at the site has started early in the morning.

Thomas Stickles, who formerly lived at 31 Taunton Lane, said the project would make for a gorgeous horse farm with structures built of high quality materials.

Gary Hutchison of 9 Plumtrees Road voiced support for the application, terming it a beautiful project that would improve the site.

In approving the project, P&Z members decided that if the complex eventually were to change from a private horse farm to a commercial facility that is open to the public, the applicant would need to obtain a special permit from the P&Z for public usage of the site.

Also, the P&Z is requiring that some nighttime lighting planned for the site be consistent with “dark sky” specifications designed to reduce light pollution.

Also, P&Z members decided that the project adheres to the purpose and intent of the 2004 Town Plan of Conservation and Development, meets the requirements for a special permit, and also complies with applicable zoning regulations.

The project has gained approval from the Inland Wetlands Commission.

Last month, IWC members modified and extended a wetlands/watercourses protection permit for the site, which the applicant initially had obtained in 2008. The permit addresses stormwater control and impervious surfaces at the site. The IWC extended the permit to May 2018.