Planning commission recommends zoning change to allow hippotherapy and backs special use for Strides in Motion

The Planning & Zoning Commission voted to recommend a zoning text amendment that adds definitions for hippotherapy and therapeutic riding and to permit hippotherapy as a use in farm/farm-business zones while making it a special use in two residential districts.

The change, presented by staff member Mister Brown, was intended to create a clear land-use category for horse-assisted therapy and to limit unintended commercial activity in residential neighborhoods by routing cases through the special-use process in R E 1 and R E 2 zones. Commissioners said the amendment would let applicants apply for site-specific conditions while giving neighbors notice and appeal opportunities.

Mister Brown told commissioners the proposal inserts a definition into Table 7-1 of the zoning code and would allow the village to process the ordinance amendment and the applicant's special-use request concurrently; the ordinance must be adopted before any special-use permit can be granted. Commissioners discussed how hippotherapy differs from therapeutic riding, the operator's relationship to the site and whether horses would be boarded or provided by the facility.

Applicant Lauren, representing Strides in Motion, said sessions would generally be one client at a time with a small number of support personnel (a horse leader and volunteers), that horses would be boarded at the facility or supplied by the owner, and that a small ramp to the indoor arena would be required to improve accessibility.

A parent, Heather Winwright, spoke in support and described multi-year benefits her son received from Strides in Motion. Commissioners asked operational questions about session length, group size and signage; staff and members agreed that standard residential sign limits and home-occupation signage rules would apply.

After discussion, the commission voted by roll call to approve the text amendment (unanimous among those voting). With the ordinance change adopted, the commission considered the special-use application for 41 West 957 Town Hall Road. Commissioners and staff reviewed the three special-use findings: public health/safety, compatibility with adjacent properties and consistency with village land-use policy. Members noted the site's seclusion and large acreage as supportive of compatibility.

Commissioners amended the commission's recommendation to include a condition tying the special-use grant to both the current property owner and the anticipated operator, Strides in Motion, so the authorization would not automatically transfer to a future owner without review. The amended motion to recommend approval of the special use passed on a roll-call vote.

The commission emphasized that it is advisory: the recommendations will be forwarded to the village board, which must adopt the ordinance and then consider the special-use permit. Mister Brown said the village attorney will prepare two ordinances (one for the text amendment and one for the property-specific special use) and that the items are likely to appear on a village board agenda in early March. Applicants and supporters were encouraged to attend the board hearing to answer any additional questions.