APPLICATION OF
MICHAEL AND ANNE STRAWBRIDGE TO THE
WEST VINCENT TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FOR A CONDITIONAL USE
FOR THE USE OF TAX PARCEL #25-7-109
AS A COMMERCIAL STABLE

DECISION

            AND NOW, this 26th day of June, 2000 the application of Michael and Anne Strawbridge for Conditional Use approval of tax parcel #25-7-109, 1072 St. Matthews Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425, as a commercial stable is granted subject to the following conditions:

  1. Attached hereto and made a part hereof are plans showing the improvements existing when applicants purchased the subject property and plans showing improvements made subsequent to purchase and those proposed for the future.  The actual use of the property as a commercial stable shall not exceed that consistent with the latter plans without further conditional use approval by the Township.

  2. Tax parcel #25-7-109 shall not at any time be used as a hack stable (a stable with horses for hire by the general public for trail riding).

  3. A manure storage pit may continue at its current location at the east side of the barn approximately fifty (50) feet from St. Matthews Road.  Any enlargement or expansion of the manure pit shall comply with Section 2220C. of the Township Zoning Ordinance as the same is worded as of the date of this Decision, a copy of the said section being attached hereto and made a part hereof.

  4. Manure disposal shall be accomplished by removal from a manure pit by a commercial hauler at least one time every three weeks or in such a way that is acceptable to the Township Code Enforcement Officer as being reasonably required for adequate protection of the watershed and the public health.  In all cases the determination of the Township Code Enforcement Officer shall prevail but with the right of the applicant to contest the reasonableness of the same.

  5. The maximum number of horses to be housed on the premises shall not exceed the number established in Section 2220A. of the Township Zoning Ordinance as the same is worded as of the date of this Decision, a copy of the said section being attached hereto and made a part hereof.

  6. No outdoor area or outdoor arena lighting shall be installed.  Only lighting for decorative and/or safety purposes shall be permitted in accordance with Section 2108 of the Township Zoning Ordinance as the same is worded as of the date of this Decision, a copy of the said section being attached hereto and made a part hereof.

  7. The hours of operation for commercial boarding/training activities shall be limited to 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, excluding the emergency care of horses.

  8. The commercial stable shall have the following limitations regarding riding or training lessons and clinics:

    1. a maximum of two (2) instructors teaching a lesson in any hour;

    2. a maximum of two (2) lessons taught in any hour;

    3. a maximum of five (5) students participating in any lesson;

    4. a maximum of eight (8) lessons taught during any day with each lesson being no longer than two (2) hours; and

    5. a maximum of twenty-five (25) students per day.

  9. There shall be no commercial or organized horse show on the subject property.

  10. No permanent loudspeakers or public address system shall be installed at any time any place on the subject property.  Portable loudspeakers or other forms of portable public address systems shall be permitted provided the same shall only be indoors and shall not be audible off the property of the applicants.

  11. There shall be no on-street parking of vehicles except for the applicant’s own private use, this restriction being applicable both to the regular commercial stable operation and to clinics.

  12. There shall be no more than six (6) clinics in any calendar year.  No clinic shall exceed four (4) sessions per day or five (5) students per session.

  13. Unless further restricted by this Decision, the use shall comply with the applicable provisions of Article XXI (Design Standards) and Section 2220 of the Township Zoning Ordinance as the same are worded as of the date of this Decision and a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part hereof.

  14. The commercial stable operation approved by this Decision shall commence within two (2) years of the date of this Decision.  Failure to commence the commercial stable operation within this period or the cessation of the commercial stable use for a continuous period of five (5) years shall terminate this conditional use approval.  The applicant shall be required to notify the Township of the commencement of the commercial stable use.

  15. The subject property shall comply with all other terms and provisions of the Township Zoning Ordinance and with all other applicable regulations.

This decision is subject to appeal as set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

West Vincent Township Board of Supervisors