Douglas County panel backs animal-training zoning rules, 4-3

The Douglas County Planning Commission voted 4-3 on Sept. 28 to recommend approval of zoning changes for certain animal-training and exercise sessions. Commissioners Mark Hampton, Len Abruzzo and Calvin Downs opposed the recommendation; Patrick Neville, Ed Kubly, Jim Smallwood and Mark Witkiewicz voted in favor, the commission’s minutes show.

The Board of County Commissioners has final decision-making authority and is scheduled to consider the proposal at a hearing Oct. 27 at 2:30 p.m., county staff scheduled. The planning commission’s recommendation is not final approval.

Project DR2026-004 would allow property owners or lessees in the Agricultural One, Large Rural Residential, Rural Residential and Estate Residential districts to host training sessions involving animals they do not own. It would also allow nonresidents to bring their own animals to a property for exercise sessions while present. The proposal caps the combined number of training lessons and exercise sessions at 14 per week per property; activity above that limit would require a Use by Special Review, according to county project materials.

County staff says the amendment would codify a 2016 administrative determination that dog-and-handler training is sufficiently similar to horse-and-rider training to be allowed in the same districts. The proposal treats training and exercise separately from horse boarding.

The Franktown Citizens Coalition, Happy Canyon Homeowners Association and Louviers Conservation Partnership raised concerns about commercial animal activity in residential areas, including noise, traffic, parking, off-leash animals and enforcement. The Douglas County Health Department recommended animal-waste management plans. Staff said existing regulations already require responsible waste handling and the amendment would not add a specific waste standard.