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Don't let Barrington Hills go to the horses

During the June 23rd Barrington Hills ZBA hearing discussing extreme additions to our Village Code, attendees listened to several equestrian presentations that should shock most residents - "If you don't like horses or boarding, LEAVE!"

Those emotions originated from an exceptionally biased Equestrian Commission recommendation that would permit unlimited horse boarding businesses for income on residential properties. Additionally they propose barn construction equal to or less than the size of the residence not be subjected to special use permits, manure pile accumulation on bare ground for extended periods, unrestricted storage of trailers outdoors, crowded client/trainee sessions, and laborers starting work at 6 a.m.

Villages comparable to Barrington Hills in history and equestrian lifestyles have adopted consistent codes related to horse-keeping. Mettawa, Wadsworth and Wayne limit horses to one per acre on residential zoned properties. We advised the Equestrian Commission of this, but it fell on deaf ears.

The majority of Barrington Hills residents (eccentric non-equestrians, apparently), didn't invest in countryside properties only to face the potential menace of commercialized boarding and riding academy businesses obliterating their privacy and tranquility with operations running 12/7/365 on adjacent properties.

An April 19, 2005, presentation titled, "The Riding Club of Barrington Hills - It's Future -An Outline for Discussion," the well-known equestrian author suggests strategies for bolstering membership and political influence of the club.

One tactic proposed alignment with the NRA writing, "-Simply shoot incoming non-equestrians as they arrive with their moving vans. This is probably the most cost-effective way to go."

We haven't been shot (yet). We're not moving either!

If residents reading this agree these proposals will result in commercialization of our community, submit your concerns to the ZBA and Village Board via clerk@barringtonhills-il.gov today.

ZBA deliberation on the matter begins Aug. 18th.

Jim Hammond

Barrington Hills