Close to two hundred residents flocked to Ridgefield Library last night to attend a Special Meeting of the Board of Selectman and to vote on an amendment to our Town’s Livestock ordinance.
For more than a year, Ridgefield resident Tom Pesce and his Manor Road neighbors have been rallying to get an ordinance passed that would prevent residents with less than half an acre of land to keep multiple hooved animals on their property.
Pesce, who petitioned the Town of Ridgefield via Change.org explains, “As crazy as it sounds, we have tenants renting next door to us who have three full-sized horses in their backyard. They [the horses] have broken through the fence into our yard, left piles of manure in the street and piling up in their yard for weeks on end, have had no shelter from the elements, and have eaten and kicked another neighbor's entire stockade fence to shreds.”
The vote, which followed two Public Hearings on the issue, involved changes in Ridgefield Code under Chapter 120, “Keeping of Livestock on Residential Property”.
After listening to comments of community members, Ed Tyrell, the meeting moderator, asked for attendees to vote by responding Yes or No to accept changes to the ordinance. Tyrell then asked that attendees indicate their vote by standing and after a brief silance said, “The aye’s have it by 2 to 1, the motion passes.”
Animals Article II: Keeping of Livestock on Residential Property § 120-6. The purpose of this article is to:
A. Regulate the keeping of livestock on small lots in high-density residential areas, defined as the R7.5, R10, R20, and SD R20 Zones, shown on the Town's Official Zoning Map.
B. Regulate the management of livestock and livestock waste on small lots in high-density residential areas.
C. Protect, preserve and promote the health, safety, welfare, and quality of life of its residents.
View a DRAFT of the Horse Ordinance here.