New Restrictions Proposed For Livestock Ownership In Wildomar, As Some Residents Balk

WILDOMAR, CA — Proposed changes to Wildomar's development code that may alter the way residents are able to keep and own livestock will be under discussion at Wednesday's special Planning Commission public meeting.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the council chambers, located at 23873 Clinton Keith Road, Suite 106, in Wildomar, and will also be streamed online, below.

During the special meeting, the Community Development Department will present a resolution recommending that the city council approve municipal code amendments and adopt revisions to articles within Title 17 of the Development Code, many related to farm animals, according to the agenda.

The potential changes referred to in the 365-page document, Section 17.225 on page 256, raised immediate concerns for a few residents out of the gate: specifically, local coffee shop owner Raphael Montegue of Montegue Bros. Coffee Shop and Wildomar Wild-o-Market founder Darla Dunn.

The proposed document specifically refers to large animals, lessening the number of large animals per acre from five to two, and all that shall not be kept less than 100 feet from any street, 20 feet from any property line, and 50 feet from any residence, according to that section of the development code.

Montegue told Patch that he and his wife keep horses at his Wildomar property. The family also has chickens, a single pig and two male cows, he said.

The new rules would alter his way of life, he said.

"Please go to the planning commission meeting (Wednesday). They are trying to affect the rural nature of our town," he said. "Right now, five large animals are allowed on a one-acre lot. They are trying to reduce it down to two large animals per lot."

Montegue shared how having horses actually helped save his home.

"In the recent fire, my house was saved by the horse enclosure," he said. "The fire stopped directly at the horse enclosure because they eat every single weed, and that saved my house."

He has pleaded that those introducing changes look at the facts. "Consider that this can not only save people's property, but it is also supposed to be a rural area, and we have rural heritage. It literally hurt my feelings when I heard about folks who are trying to reduce the number of animals allowed."

The livestock reduction propositions do not stop with large animals, but also apply to hogs, mini pigs, and miniature horses.

The proposed changes separate out ruminants (hooved animals) from large animals. These would be referred to as domestic animals, including goats, sheep, alpacas and llamas, allowed at no more than 3 per acre, 100 feet from any street, 20 feet from property lines, and 50 feet from residences, according to the documents.

Crowing fowl are now stipulated as remaining in an enclosed area, and only one rooster for six females on less than an acre of land.

More strict rules have been put in place for fowl, aviary birds, other domestic birds, and large birds.

Line items regarding animal keeping standards, ownership of exotic or wild animals, and endangered species were also added.

"Many of our Wildomar friends have cattle, horses, sheep and goats and other livestock," resident and business owner Darla Dunn told Patch.

Currently, she lives in a tract home with a large yard, and has owned chickens but does not currently own livestock. She still believes that the ability to do so is part of the culture of life in Wildomar.

"Although I live in a tract home I work on local farms around here, and have been in Wildomar long enough to know that while the city might not have much, it is the rural character and farm freedom that shapes the town," she said.

Dunn advises all who are interested in maintaining the Wildomar farm-lifestyle to attend the meeting or write in with a statement.

"The ordinance is unjustified and literally takes aim at the character of rural communities," she said. "If the City of Wildomar adopts this, they are effectively moving to deface the elements that make Wildomar unique and rare to surrounding cities. There is no good justification for this from the city."

Decisions by the Planning Commission are reached through a public hearing process, open to all.

"Members of the community are encouraged to attend and participate in the meetings," according to the website. "During a typical public hearing, the Commission will hear a presentation from the Planning Department, receive a presentation from an Applicant, followed by public comments from members of the community wishing to speak on an agenda item. Upon conclusion of its deliberations, the Commission then makes a formal decision on the proposed project."

The Commission can only make recommendations to the City Council regarding amendments to the City's General Plan and Zoning Ordinance.

The Planning Commission members include Nolan King, Dr. Charles Golden III, Rene Cambero, Eric Filar, John Hume. The chair, and two commissioners' terms will expire in December of 2026, according to the website.

For more information about the Planning Commission, please contact the Planning Department at 951-677-7751, ext. 213.