Free Spirit Horse Farm Allowed to Continue Operation in South Windsor

A horse farm that has operated in a residential area on Pheasant Way and Avery Street for decades will be allowed to continue, the Planning and Zoning Commission ruled Tuesday night.

Free Spirit Farm, LLC, operated by Robert and Kimberly Selig, currently offers boarding and lessons and keeps 10 horses on the property. The Seligs realized after the recent revaluation that they were no longer in line with town regulations and applied to the South Windsor Commission for a special exception and site plan approval for their business, including breeding, training and instruction of the horses. The couple also proposed keeping up to 20 horses on the property.

Neighbors, however, balked at the proposal, fearing that the exception would allow for the farm’s operations to expand or that it might pave the way for other commercial businesses to take over the space in their neighborhood, should Free Spirit Farm leave.

The neighbors went so far as to circulate a petition blocking the application, which eventually gained 140 names.

The public hearing stretched over several hours, with testimony from both the neighbors and dozens of clients, teenagers and clients of the farm who attested to the Seligs' kindness to others and meticulous care for their animals.

The zoning commission finally decided that approving the application – with conditions to allay the neighbors’ concerns - was in the best interest of the town, Commission Chairman Bart Pacekonis said.

“It was a longstanding activity at the property and this is actually the type of farm we’d like to see continue in South Windsor,” Pacekonis said by phone Thursday. “We put restrictions on it to ensure it wouldn’t get out of hand and that the concerns of the neighbors were met.”

Pacekonis said the commission recognized everyone would not be pleased with the decision.

“It was contentious but based on all the information we received, it was the best decision we could make.”

• This permit is to operate a horse facility for breeding, training, instruction and showing horses.  This approval is for a maximum of 18 horses on the combined property of 112 Pheasant Way and 1080 Avery Street.  
• The Commission has reviewed the application, all of the plans, documentary evidence, testimony and reports from staff regarding the proposed horse facility and finds that approval of the application, with the conditions contained herein, is only appropriate where the horse facility use at all times encompasses the combined properties (1080 Avery Street and 112 Pheasant Way) as proposed to this Commission by the applicants.~ Accordingly, if at any time the horse facility is no longer operating on or using the combined properties and all portions thereof as proposed in this application, this permit shall be void and the property owners must reapply to the Commission for a new special exception demonstrating compliance with the zoning requirements for a new Commercial Animal Agriculture permit. 
•  This approval does not constitute approval of the sanitary sewer, which can only be granted by the Water Pollution Control Authority.
• The building street number must be included on the final plan.
• All free standing signs and/or building signs require the issuance of a sign permit before they are erected.
• The property must be fenced, in whole or in part, to contain the horses within the property.
• Housing/stabling of horses is restricted to the rear yard of the premises. Use of trailers for stabling horses is not permitted. 
• Manure storage and handling must adhere to the storage/handling plan presented. If the applicant wants to make changes to the storage/handling arrangements, the changes must be approved by Town staff prior to implementation. Manure shall not be allowed to accumulate to cause any health hazard, and shall be subject to inspection by the Health Officer. Fly control measures are required.
• Refuse from the business cannot be disposed of with residential refuse. Adequate arrangements must be made for business refuse disposal. 
• No public events, activities, show, etc. can be held at this site unless further approval is granted by this Commission.  No public address system is allowed to be used on site.