We stand in support of Newlin Township horse farms! Photo courtesy of Lisa Thomas.
Forward progress has been made in regard to a year-long conflict in Chester County, PA’s Newlin Township. Last year, the Township passed a new ordinance that would affect equestrian property owners and riders alike. The ordinance, among other things, proposed a strict set of regulations that would limit equestrians who patronized the area or ran businesses there.
The new ordinance would require 3 acres first horse and 2 acres every horse thereafter vs. the current 2 acres first horse and 1 acre per horse thereafter. The new ordinance also imposes regulations for manure piles (already covered at the state level), sets potential requirements for landscaping and screenings on property perimeters, restricts hours of operation, sets rules around holding shows/clinics and seeks to enforce steep slope requirements on pasture land.
Blue Hill Farm, home to Jessica and Missy Ransehousen, along with several equestrian farms were directly affected by the passing of this ordinance. However, the latest update in this saga is the fact that the state is now threatening legal action against the Newlin Township Supervisors, therefore taking the side of the horse and property owners. The attorney general is now requiring that Newlin Township revise or rescind the ordinance in order to avoid legal action.
Suzanne Bush of the Pennsylvania Equestrian has written a comprehensive review of the current state of affairs, which you can read here. One argument against Newlin Township is that the proposal violates the 2005 Agriculture, Communities and Rural Environment (ACRE) Act, which was intended to provide protection for agricultural operations.
Lisa Thomas, of Mid-Atlantic Equestrian Services, wrote the following:
Members of the community who filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s office received a letter dated 11/5/2015. Susan Bucknam, who organized an investigation into the passing of the disputed Newlin Township Equine Ordinance of 2014, has served the township with a letter requiring that they rescind the ordinance or face legal action.
Suzanne Bush from the Pennsylvania Equestrian Newspaper was present at the last township meeting where the board of supervisors refused to open discussion around the Attorney General’s letter. Suzanne has written a comprehensive article including her interview with the head of the Board Of Supervisors, Janie Baird.
The next board of supervisors meeting is 12/14/15 and we are hoping to see full support from our community members at this meeting. In an interview with Suzanne Bush, Janie Baird responded that they don’t intend to put this on the meeting agenda, as the Attorney General’s office took their time serving the requirement to rescind the ordinance or face legal action.
Equestrians and supporters in the area are encouraged to attend the next board of supervisors meeting on December 14, and we will continue to track updates from these proceedings as they become available.
[Equestrian Zoning Ordinance May Affect Popular Neilson’s Hill]
