Kitsap County leadership decided not to proceed with a suite of controversial updates to the zoning code for equestrian facilities March 11, opting instead to expand outreach and collaboration with the Equestrian Working Group to encourage good practices and mediate conflicts between rural residents and horse properties.
With support from the new Agriculture Advisory Council, an 11-member volunteer committee of people with expertise in farming, raising and treating livestock, agricultural economics and education, the county will focus on outreach to equestrian businesses rather than enforcement.
The current plan is to help equestrian businesses strike a balance between the regular impacts of operation and being considerate of neighboring properties. The EWG will help develop business-focused “guidance materials” that aim to educate property owners on how to minimize dust, odor and noise from activity at the facility…