Rancho residents will have an easier time building horse stables on their properties after the City Council this week approved easing the zoning restrictions.
The changes, which came as the city works on updating the equestrian-centric neighborhood’s master plan, were applauded by residents who had sought to ease certain requirements that made it difficult for some to build their own stables.
The City Council agreed to remove a requirement for specific construction material and deleted a rule that required house windows and doors be separated from stables or corrals by at least 20 feet. — although they must still be at least 10 feet from property lines in the rear 35 feet of the lot.
Many of the speakers who showed up at the meeting at City Hall supported the rule changes.
Calling the amendments “outstanding,” Linda Barnes, a long-time Realtor in the Rancho area, said the previous rules were unclear, making her job more difficult. By relaxing the requirements on materials, pre-fabricated stables — which are less expensive and quicker to put up — can now be used.
