Planning commission approves conditional use for 10,080‑square‑foot private riding arena

The Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission on March 2 approved a conditional use permit that allows a property owner to construct a 10,080‑square‑foot indoor riding arena on a Ptarmigan Terrace parcel.

Planning staff told the commission the structure exceeds the 8,000‑square‑foot maximum for a single large domestic animal facility under AMC 21.05.070 and therefore requires conditional‑use approval. The staff report said municipal reviewing agencies raised no objections and that staff found all nine conditional‑use criteria met and recommended approval subject to four conditions in the staff report.

"The applicant is proposing to construct a new 10,080 square foot indoor riding arena on the property," planning staff said during the presentation, noting the parcel already contains a home, a barn with stables, outdoor pens and other outbuildings.

Ron Thompson, a representative for the petitioner with Scope Permitting and Engineering, told the commission the arena is intended for personal use to provide a weather‑protected space for family riding and training. He also said the project was delayed in permitting and that owners paid significant fees. "It's a large sum of money over $7,000 to get something that we didn't think that was absolutely necessary," Thompson said.

A nearby neighbor, Tony Reetz, testified about access, drainage and the scale of the proposed building. "Ptarmigan Terrace cannot handle any kind of increased traffic up that hill," Reetz said, and asked how runoff and visibility from his adjoining property would be addressed.

Staff and the petitioner answered technical questions during the hearing: staff explained the approval is specific to the building size and that some small‑scale commercial activity such as riding lessons can be an allowed commercial use in the ARSIG zoning district, while other commercial operations would require additional approvals. Thompson and staff said the arena will be a metal building (not an inflatable dome) and that it will not require a fan; staff and the petitioner also noted drainage and stormwater will be reviewed as part of the building permit and inspection process.

Commissioner Ron moved to approve the conditional use as recommended by staff, noting that agency review produced no objections and that the Rabbit Creek Community Council had not objected. The motion, seconded by Commissioner Abaza, passed.

The commission approved the conditional use with the conditions listed on page 9 of the staff report. The record shows the petitioner had held a pre‑application conference with reviewing agencies and that 96 public notices were mailed; staff reported one written public comment in the packet and additional materials provided by the applicant.