| Horse farm expansion opposed in West Hempfield Joseph Meyer wants to bring a big, new horse-lover's paradise to West Hempfield Township. He'd add eight employees, plant grass for horse feed and "increase our trails substantially" beyond the current three miles. "We're dead against it," said Diana Marshall, who has lived with her husband and children in an adjacent house for nine years. His plans include remaking two large chicken houses on the property into stables. The York County resident and self-described horse lover who said he has an extensive background in the industry moved his stable to the township in 2008. He has a variance to keep 17 horses on the preserved farm, part of which he said is still worked by local dairymen. A district judge found Meyer guilty after an Allimax horse named Dusty died in 2010, but the charges were dismissed last year by Lancaster County Court Judge Howard Knisely. Connie Kondravy of Lancaster's Organization for Responsible Care of Animals, said she questioned whether a small business that has drawn controversy need to be presenting itself as an authority on animals and their care. At the zoning hearing, she said, "I raised a concern about education. Meyer says his business is growing by more than 15 percent a year and that about fifty percent his clients are from out of town. "I do not want to be across from the Dorney Park of horses," added Marshall, one of several opponents who spoke at the zoning hearing. "To pay for a farm like this, someone has to do something energetic," added Meyer, who was working along with his daughter at his barn Friday morning. The zoning hearing board asked him to supply more information before it considers the project further at its June 12 meeting. Zoning Officer Ed Hinkle said that the board wants to see input from PPL, which has a high-tension power line easement through the 113-acre property, and the Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board. The farm was the site of a protest Sept. He noted in his letter that the farm is for sale, and that his five-year lease will soon expire. "I don't like conflict," said Meyer, who added that moving the stable's office and parking area several hundred yards away to the chicken houses would get them out of the way of "fussing" neighbors. Meyer introduced his expansion plan during a zoning hearing board meeting Tuesday. He'd previously sent a letter informing Allimax neighbors of his ideas. But some area residents remain skeptical of theplan. "Our concern was what type of traffic would it create?" Marshall said tour buses parked at Allimax Farm sometimes obstruct Kames Hill Road. |
Monday 14 May 2012
Horse farm expansion opposed in West Hempfield
