2025 02 05_Planning Report

PLANNING REPORT PROPOSED HORSE TRAINING FACILITY EXPANSION FEBRUARY 5, 2025 3 3. § 25-8.4b. Fence Height – Solid walls and fences up to 6 FT in height are permitted in the rear and side yards, whereas a 6 FT opaque fence is proposed in the front yard at the northeastern corner of the site. The relief for the fence height is subsumed within the d(2) variance as the 6 FT fence is required for safety to prevent horses from escaping the site and entering the residential neighborhood. This feature will not only protect horses and riders, but also drivers and pedestrians in the immediate neighborhood and beyond. 4. Maximum Number of Parking Spaces – Given that the current use of a private horse training facility is not permitted in this zone or any other zones within the Township, the ordinance does not specify a minimum required number of parking spaces. 11 parking spaces are proposed, inclusive of 2 ADA spaces, which is sufficient for the anticipated number of persons on site at any given time without the need for on-street parking. It is anticipated that the persons on site other than 1-2 employees of the stables will be limited to the owner/rider and a trainer for each horse in the arena or in the adjacent paddocks. With space for 3-4 horses, each with a rider and trainer, plus 1-2 employees, a total of 10 parking spaces will be needed, leaving a surplus of 1 parking space. The site is a private facility, not open to the public, and therefore will hold a limited number of employees, trainers and owners at any given time. 5. Maximum Number of Loading Spaces – Given that the equestrian center is not listed as a permitted use in the R-1 zone or any other zones within the Township, the ordinance does specify a minimum number of required loading spaces for the existing use. The nature of the facility does not necessitate typical loading spaces on an asphalt-paved area. Trucks and horse trailers will continue to access the site from Nicholas Avenue and enter the barn area for deliveries, reducing any impact on the nearby residences along Woodland Avenue and Nicholas Avenue. The variances can be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and will not substantially impair the intent and purposes of the zone plan and zoning ordinance. The expansion and rehabilitation of a private riding and training facility aligns with the goals of the Township to

substantially impair the intent and purposes of the zone plan and zoning ordinance. The expansion and rehabilitation of a private riding and training facility aligns with the goals of the Township to promote a desirable visual environment, as stated in the 2019 Master Plan Reexamination. All proposed improvements will enhance the site’s appearance and harmonize with the character of the residential neighborhood. Additionally, the project will help preserve the decades-old property as a valuable asset to the Township without increasing building size or encroaching deeper into required setbacks. As a result, building and lot coverage are being brought closer to compliance with the zoning ordinance. The proposed project will complement existing uses in the R-1 Zone and is in line with purposes “a,” “c,” “g,” and “i” of the MLUL. Parking and Traffic Given that the existing use of a private horse training facility is not permitted in this zone or any other zones within the Township of West Orange, the ordinance does not provide a specified minimum number of required parking spaces. The site will provide 11 total parking spaces, inclusive of two (2) ADA accessible parking spaces which will be adequate to support the site’s expansion due to the limited number of people on-site at once, and therefore a parking study is not necessary. The amount of traffic to be generated as part of the improvements to the facility are de minimis, generating far less than 50 trips an hour, which the Institute of Transportation Engineers would caution that there may be an impact to nearby intersections. As such, the proposed improvements would not have any measurable impact to traffic flow on nearby streets and intersections. Since the facility is a private, non-public use, the number of people on-site at any given time is limited to employees, trainers, and owners. The proposed site layout is designed to provide effective access based on the local characteristics of the property and surrounding area. The site driveways, and on-site layout have been designed to provide for effective access to and from the subject property and reduce impacts to surrounding residents. Based on the operational characteristics of the site, the proposed parking supply of 11 parking spaces would be sufficient to support this project and the development would not have a significant impact on the traffic

ational characteristics of the site, the proposed parking supply of 11 parking spaces would be sufficient to support this project and the development would not have a significant impact on the traffic operations of the adjacent roadway network.