Public Horse Stable Permit is Approved

by Randy Pierce

Unanimous support at both the committee level and from the full county board, at its regular monthly meeting held on Wednesday, November 20, has resulted in the approval of a special use permit that will authorize the operation of an existing horse stable near Glen Carbon under new ownership.

Located on six acres at 101 Oaklawn Road, Glen Carbon, the property is in an “A” agriculture-zoned district of Edwardsville Township and was subject to a public hearing in late October as the first step in the approval process. Then it advanced to the county board building and zoning committee which recommended approval by the full board.

The petitioner seeking the permit is Christin Webb while David Mueller is listed as the property owner. A number of special conditions added to the permit include that there shall be no off-site parking, the business is to be open to the public from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. seven days a week, dumpsters shall be screened from view from the roadway and the premises shall be maintained in a neat and orderly manner.

As explained during the county’s zoning board of appeals public hearing, this property had actually been used as a horse stable previously but Mueller selling it to Webb means the change in ownership requires a new special use permit.

All of this has transpired amid a letter of opposition that had been submitted by residents living nearby on Oak Lawn Road and Middlegate Lane.     

That letter stated those residents who signed it “have repeatedly made it known and crystal clear that we don’t want David Mueller and his stable operations in our neighborhood and you are repeatedly holding these bogus special use hearings.”

“The only thing special,” the letter went on, “is the treatment of David Mueller,” alleging he has been in violation of stipulations concerning the horse stable in its inception in 2016.

Citing nuisances such as “biting flies by the thousands, health hazards, hundreds of pounds of manure,” there have also been problems from flying dust created by “speeding dump trucks,” according to that correspondence.

“In six years, you as a board you, have given he and this business full reign to crap on our neighborhood literally with horse shit.”

The letter, composed by Arbon Hairston, additionally mentioning the possibility of a class action lawsuit, further charges that an inspector who was informed of the health hazards said he was told “hands off” then, within two to three weeks, resigned his position with the county.

Some very personal matters were also addressed in that letter while further accusing Mueller of bragging about “having several good old boys in his pocket” plus also noting he has made threats about selling the property for use as a hog farm.

Webb answered questions from the zoning board members saying she foresees no difficulty filling the 20 stalls at the stable while adding, “We don’t want an unclean stable for our clients. So, I would think that the shape that we keep the barn in would make the neighbors happy but I guess I can’t promise that.”

Also explaining that this location would be for people who own horses they wish to ride, and do not have property of their own upon which to do so, in a large indoor arena, all of the customers doing business there being renters who pay for the stall space.

Monica Landgreder, another resident who lives in this area, spoke at the ZBA hearing and expressed concerns about the possibility of an access road going across her property while Karen Cox stated he had doubts about Mueller’s credibility when discussing his plans.

Mueller, when speaking at the ZBA hearing, said the letter written by Hairston was “full of libel” and alluded to a resident nearby who supports the stable operation even though she was unable to be present to speak.

“If these people aren’t happy with me,” Mueller went on, “they have a chance for me to go away. I’m selling property (contingent on the approval of the special use permit).”

“It’s a good building, it’s a good facility. I get a call about once every two weeks (from someone) wanting to board (a horse) there,” Mueller continued.

“I’ve been through the mill with Mr. Hairston a couple of times,” Mueller said. “If you’ve been on this board for at least eight years, you know about him.”

Stating he has taken care of the access road for the last 10 years, Mueller said he would rather not talk to Hairston, further explaining that he, the former, had operated a similar facility in Troy for nine or 10 years without any problems.

“That place is immaculate right now,” Mueller claimed, “except for grass that needs to be cut and there’s no horses there right now. However, if you want to get rid of me, grant the permit and I’ll move on if the financing and everything goes through.”

The zoning board of appeals passed the permit request by a vote of four yes and one no.