The Equestrian Commission is scheduled to meet on Monday evening at 6:30 PM. The commission has not met in nearly a year. On the agenda are several items, including discussions on Fencing and Horse Boarding Regulations. However the most interesting item seems to be something called the Illinois State Farm Nuisance Act Presentation. We researched this topic, and apparently it is legislation that has been promoted by the Horsemen’s Council of Illinois and local Equestrienne Elaine Ramesh. The legislation has already passed the Illinois Senate and House, and, from what we can tell, it is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
It would add the keeping of horses and horse BOARDING to the current state law which protects existing livestock farms from being lawsuits on the basis of nuisance. The original law was intended to protect actual agricultural farms from being sued as a nuisance by neighbors because of odors, dust or noise generated by the routine performance of farming chores, but it seems as though the activists in the Horsemen’s Council are using this to bypass local zoning ordinances, such as ours in Barrington Hills. Horse boarding in our view is NOT agricultural, as there is no agricultural product which is generated. We would strongly urge residents to attend this meeting.
At the time of publication, only the agenda was available here, but no meeting packet materials were posted. The Trustee Liaison to the Commission is newly elected Trustee Paula Jacobsen.
CORRECTION: Michelle Maison is still the liaison to the commission.
Maybe it is time to form a residents commission to oversee residents rights or better yet disband the equestrian commission which was an invention former Village President. It is quite evident by this recent bill promoted by VBH radical commercial equestrian fringe that residents rights and equestrian rights are at odds. A dark day for equestrians in VBH as they continue to try and erode residential estate living standards at the expense of commercial pursuits.
I live next to one of the “radical equestrians ” rental homes and it is in need of repair. My realtor says it is devaluing my home and all the homes on the block. Think of how they will treat the property when they can run their rodeos with unlimited horses!
They only care for their hobby and let their property’s go to hell at the expense of their neighbors. I have sent them a nice letter asking for some consideration and she doesn’t bother responding. Good luck with this new law!
That fence has been on the ground for years. Now that the neighbors are signing a petition to clean up their yard they still won’t fix it.
Some people just don’t care.
Hopefully the village will help.