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Rosedale resident discouraged by proposed ordinance
Topics: cookie-cutter developments, developers, Rosedale, horses, Horse Property, Ranches, homeowners, City Council
Posted by damiano Fri Dec 1, 2006 13:02:42 PST
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0 responses 1 comment My wife came home from the Rogers Ranch (or stables) livid about the Bakersfield City Council’s plan to make an ordinance change that affects homeowners who have large animals like horses, and stops any future homeowners from having horses unless they have a lot of land.

No more cross-fencing — horse properties are going, going, gone. Big developers are backing the city council with the loving kindness and approval that only a mother would give to her child.

My wife gave me a green piece of paper that explained the details. I read it late last night and was upset about it, too.  Although we do not have horses on our property, we are zoned for 4-H participation. We don’t live on a ranch, but under the current zoning laws we have enough property to cross-fence it and have a “large animal” area for even two animals.

Apparently, if we had a mare and she delivered a foal, at six weeks we would have to get rid of one of them. So, we could have a colt but not the mother since that would be considered two large animals. The colt would have to be weaned within six weeks.

Horse owners at the stables were talking it up. They had little means to get the word out my wife stated. I told her to go to the meeting, but she said that the meeting had already been held, and that is why the horse owners are so mad. The meeting attendees got five minutes to speak, and the council rudely counted down the minutes, “Five, four, three, two, one, next.”

It’s time to get high tech on their butts.

What does a fairly new Bakersfield resident who came from the big city of New York care about something like this for? I care because I fell in love with Rosedale because you could have horses. You could even ride your dirt bike around your lawn until your neighbors complain. You could pet the cow or horse in your neighbors yard. This is so cool, so country, and so close to the city. It is an oasis away from the concrete jungle and cookie-cutter developments that plague the future of Bakersfield.

A Better Bakersfield is not going to happen if developers get their way and the ordinance gets passed. For all I know, it already did. Darn the news for not elaborating on what is going on. If they said it, it was most likely at the end of the half-hour broadcast, and was said fast.

If you have more information, get the word out if you can. If you don’t want horses, then move somewhere else and do not ruin this oasis in the city.

Joseph Damiano

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Comment From: damiano

I need to submit an update: Save Our animals (Save Our Animals [saveouranimals@earthlink.net] sent me this notice: At the Board of Supervisors meeting on December 19, 2006 all 5 of the Board of Supervisors voted to direct the Planning Department to cease considering changes to the A-1, RS and RF zone districts. YEA, we won this one. Many many thanks to everyone who signed the petitions (over 500 names were delivered to the Board of Supervisors), notified others and to the livestock related businessess who helped so much. We will continue after the holidays to try to make Kern County better for all of the animal lovers, whether it is thru zoning, trails, or whatever. If you have any suggestions feel free to voice you opinion. AGAIN, WE COULD NOT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THIS WITHOUT EVERYONE'S HELP, and we will need your help in the future too. God Bless each and every one of you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. TIM AND JULIE POPPLEWELL also sent an email and said "Lets don't drop the ball now." to keep this matter watched and people interested. I share their concerns. I truly hope that everyone involved will also support the Motocroos track and trails supported by Dick Taylor too. I want to go riding again... Happy New Year & God Bless Joseph D.