City of los angeles general plan

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CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

II-16

the dwelling and the equine use properties; whether either can be

relocated. If the zoning administrator permits the dwelling to be built

closer than 35 feet to the equine use, the equine use must move or be

terminated.

Trails. There are over 90 miles of equine trails within the city.

Riding trails, especially around the north rim of the San Fernando

Valley and in and around the Santa Monica Mountains reinforces the

existing equine uses and makes their expansion more viable. Careful

planning and maintenance of equine trails is important for the

protection of the watershed and natural environments. 

New subdivisions within a K District typically are required by decision

makers to provide equestrian trails, as are subdivisions that are

proposed adjacent to equinekeeping uses and the Rim of the Valley Trail

Corridor. However, this requirement is discretionary. Sometimes the

development's homeowners' association is required to maintain the

trails or volunteer groups arrange to maintain trails. Sometimes the

Department of Recreation and Parks accepts responsibility for trail

upkeep, provided the land developer pays an initial maintenance fee.

Usually the fee is insufficient to pay for long term maintenance and

repair of the trails, thereby placing a financial burden on the city.

"Guide to Existing and Potential Equestrian Trails" (adopted 1977,

revised 1991) guides trail and equine area development and protection

in the northwest San Fernando Valley. Equine trails will be more fully

addressed by the Open Space Element of the general plan. In addition,

some of the community plans identify equine areas and trails and

contain equine policies.

Equine oriented parks. Some city parks have equine oriented trail

features, such as rest areas with hitching posts and watering troughs.

Griffith Park has 54 miles of riding trails, a pony ring and an 80 acre

Equestrian Center. The Center has been the site of important local,

national and international events, including the 1984 Olympic Games and

1995 World Cup Dressage. It has a 4,300 seat covered arena, several

uncovered arenas, training facilities, 520 boarding stalls and related

facilities. Stetson Ranch Park in Sylmar is an equine oriented park

with two equestrian rings. Hansen Dam in Lake View Terrace is

crisscrossed by riding trails and has a 40 acre equestrian center with

17 arenas and several hundred boarding  stalls. Orcus Park near Hansen

Dam was converted to an equestrian park in 1999 and renamed Gabrielino

Equestrian Park. It has staging areas and parking for recreational

vehicles with overnight use by groups allowed by reservation. All of

these city parks are linked by trails to the Angeles National Forest

and Rim of the Valley Corridor trail systems. The Hansen Dam and

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CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

II-17

Griffith Park equestrian centers are managed by private operators,

through leases with the Department of Recreation and Parks.

 

Equine population. The number of licensed equines has remained fairly

stable during recent years. The annual license fee goes into the

Equestrian Facilities Trust Fund for acquisition, construction and

maintenance of equine trails and facilities on City properties. It is

estimated that less than a third of all equines stabled in the city are

licensed. In 1996-97 the Department of Animal Regulation issued 1,622

equine permits; 1,505 in 1997-98; and 1,695 in 1998-99. Most of the

equines are boarded privately. Some are stabled in one of 52 private

boarding stables, most of which are in the San Fernando Valley. In

addition, equines stabled in the immediate environs utilize the city's

equine trails and facilities. The largest concentration (approximately

1,500 equines) is located north of Griffith Park in Burbank and

Glendale.

Conclusion. The city has a primary role in encouraging and enabling the

retention and expansion of equine uses.

Continuing issues:

N

 Loss of equine sites due to change in use and encroachment.

N

 Lack of city standards for equine trail dedication, development,

maintenance, safety and protection of the environment.

N

 Lack of city funds to maintain existing trails that are within the

city's responsibility.

N

 Funding to accelerate the implementation of the Rim of the Valley

Corridor and other trail and facility systems before opportunities are

lost to acquire land for connecting trails and systems.

N

 Safe interface of trails with city streets.

Equine areas objective, policies and programs:

Objective: retain equine oriented uses as a part of the city's heritage

and for recreational, educational and economic purposes.

Policy 1: continue to encourage the establishment of new equine uses

and K districts and to protect existing significant areas from

encroachment. 

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CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

II-18

Program 1: designation of equine oriented policies, areas, trails

and related information in community plans.

Responsibility: departments of *Building and Safety and

*City Planning.

Program 2: as a part of community plan and/or other city plan

preparation, identify equinekeeping areas that would be suitable

for new K Districts and recommend that the City Council or

planning commission initiate said districts.

Responsibility: departments of Animal Regulation, *City

Planning, and Recreation and Parks.

Program 3: periodic review and revision of the equine provisions

of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

Responsibility: departments of *Animal Regulation, *City

Planning, and *Recreation and Parks.

Policy 2: establish standards and procedures for a comprehensive equine

trail system, similar to the bikeways system, including provisions for

protection of watershed and natural environments.

Program: with the assistance of a citizen-technical advisory

committee, develop requirements, guidelines, standards and

procedures for equine trail dedications and maintenance and

prepare a trail system plan.

Responsibility: departments of Animal Regulation, *City

Planning, Public Works, *Recreation and Parks, and

Transportation.

Policy 3: continue to expand and maintain trail linkages which will

reinforce the viability of equine uses.

Program 1: street dedication, improvement and maintenance.

Responsibility: departments of *City Planning, *Public

Works, Recreation and Parks and *Transportation.

Program 2: city park and cooperative trail development and linkage

programs.

Responsibility: departments of City Planning, Environmental

Affairs, and *Recreation and Parks.

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