Tollgate debates horse ownership

Results are in on a survey of Tollgate residents on horse ownership in the semi-rural subdivision.

According to the survey, developed by an ad hoc committee of homeowners, 64 percent of the home owners who returned surveys favored protecting the present property owners that have horses, but 63 percent favored eliminating the horse property when the lot changed ownership.

The issue stokes passions and reflects the changing social landscape of the Sisters area as it evolves from a rural community to one that is increasingly urban and suburban.

Planned with the idea of horse ownership in mind from the beginning, almost every street in Tollgate is named after something that has to do with horses and riding -- from "Lariat" to "Buckboard."

But only 10 horse owners currently live in Tollgate, out of a total of 440 homeowners, on lots of approximately one-half acre each. There is a home owners association, with a board that manages the affairs of the neighborhood.

Some homeowners are concerned about the impact of horses -- flies, smell and a possible degradation of property values.

Horse owners -- and some non-horse-owners as well -- contend that impact can be mitigated and the presence of horses actually adds value and increases the charm of the area.

Cathy Pearson is one horse owner who weighed in on the issue.

"I have concerns and questions about how the ad hoc committee was formed," she said. "There were no current horse owners represented. And, there was no way the survey was unbiased...

"However," she said., "the real issue is that home owners know that horses were allowed when they bought here in Tollgate," she said.

The board compiled the results of the survey. The ad hoc committee drew up a ballot on the matter, which was unanimously rejected at the last board meeting.

Board President Kent Thie would not acknowledge that a ballot had been presented to and rejected by the board.

He stated only that, "No decision has been reached. We will be considering additional input. This (issue) is not a big deal."

The horse owners are now represented by a group called the Tollgate Tailgaiters.

They will encourage responsible horse ownership by self-policing, monitoring each other to help deal with complaints about horses, but they will also be monitoring the board's actions.

The board has encouraged this input, and Sue Durbin, a member of the Tailgaiters, has been invited to attend a closed workshop to draw up a new ballot on the matter.

Once a ballot has been drafted, it would go on to the Tollgate attorney for review, and then to the board for approval. If the board approves the ballot, it would be submitted to a vote of the home owners, and must pass by a two-thirds super-majority.

Both sides are now trying to work on a consensus ballot.

One sticking point on the last proposed ballot was the transfer of horse property.

The survey indicated that 67 percent of the homeowners did not favor eliminating horses by a certain date, but as previously noted, 63 percent did favor eliminating the horse property when the lot changed ownership.

"Questions of saleability are a concern," Sue Durbin said. "Some of these horse owners have invested anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 in fencing and barns. Limiting the sale of the property to immediate family was what was rejected on the previous ballot.