Plan for Horses Has Its Hitches

In a departure for fast-growing south Orange County, a developer is asking city officials for permission to build an equestrian center rather than tract homes in the rolling hills above San Juan Capistrano.

Although the center, which would be the largest in the state, would seem to be more in keeping with San Juan Capistrano’s rustic atmosphere, the horse plan is not without some hitches.

The developer, Advanced Real Estate Services, wants to build an upscale facility that would accommodate as many as 3,000 horses as well as a veterinary hospital, a clubhouse, restaurants, an event center that could hold up to 1,000 guests, and even some stables that would be private.

Some neighbors of San Juan Meadows, 148 acres south of San Juan Creek Road and east of Interstate 5, said they’d prefer houses over horses. Others, though, said horses would complement the area and that the prevailing wind would probably sweep away any obnoxious odors.

On Tuesday evening, the San Juan Capistrano City Council agreed in a 4-1 vote that the proposed switch from houses to horses was worth studying.

Mayor Pro Tem David Swerdlin voted against the change.

“My tendency is to think they’re proposing regional use to take advantage of the closing of other stables in Orange County. I’d like to keep our small-town feel rather than even see this get started.”

Rick Julian, president of the Lake Forest developer, said he is bucking trends by walking away from his right to build more than 300 homes on the land and instead make it available for horses.

“As we were studying every use we could imagine for this property, this came out as the No. 1 alternative,” Julian said. “It’s a pretty bold undertaking, but I’m convinced it will be very successful.”

Julian said stables are at risk elsewhere. An equestrian center at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa may downsize, and the stables at the former El Toro Marine base may eventually be forced out.

About two years ago, the developer began looking into alternative uses for the land, which is zoned for 325 homes and part of a landfill that closed in 1976.

“We had planned to do homes, but we decided that we could develop the San Juan Meadows equestrian facility and wind up in the same realm economically,” Julian said. “And we could also elevate the image of San Juan Capistrano into a world-class equestrian community.”

Dave Provence, who manages the nearby Sycamore Stables, currently the city’s largest equestrian facility with 465 horses, said he would welcome a new facility.

“We need more stalls for horses down in this area,” Provence said. “It’s an interesting project. I’m not sure if there’s enough business to warrant 3,000 stalls, but we’ll see.”

It also remains to be seen just how 3,000 horses might smell to the residents of Capistrano Terrace Mobile Home Park, located on a hill just below the property.

But Julian said residents shouldn’t worry.

“I think we can show that the prevailing winds blow away from [the mobile home park], and above the facility is open space,” he said.

Resident Jim Nanzig agreed. He computes that the horse smell would probably waft toward the nearby San Juan Hills Golf Course.

“I think this would be kind of cool,” he said. “It would maintain the rural nature of our little park.”

John Meridith, Nanzig’s neighbor, said he’d rather live with the smell of horses than more homes.

“We’ve got enough houses in this area,” he said.

Michael Massen, though, wasn’t enthusiastic when he heard about the possibility of 3,000 horses living so close.

“That’s right in my backyard,” he said. “The smell of those horses, no way.”

Julian conceded there is legitimate concern about manure and the possibility of contaminating the water table.

“We will probably be installing a collection system,” he said. “So we won’t be contributing to the water table anyway.”

The proposal includes wedding and banquet facilities, ranchettes or private stables for horses, as well as training and show rings. It would also provide access to equestrian trails through the hills and along San Juan Creek.

“I don’t think there’s anything west of Kentucky that would compare with what we’re doing,” Julian said.