Seahorse Riding Club Update

At the Tuesday Sept.10 RHE City Council Meeting, during a Public Hearing regarding new proposed ordinances governing zoning approval for emergency shelters and transitional/supportive care facilities as mandated by State Senate Bill 2 (2008), Clark Davis questioned the intent of the City because it is well known that Oxbow Partners, who purchased Seahorse Riding Club's site (with a 2 year escrow now in its 7th month) has plans to build a residential care facility. The Council: 1) Assured us that the ordinances will set the Commercial-General/Mixed Use zone at the top of the hill as the designated zone, and that Seahorse's Commercial-Recreation zoning can not be considered for such developments 2)Said there is an "almost zero" chance of an assisted living facility being built on the Seahorse site, given that it would require a) a change to the City General Plan b) rezoning of the site and c) many variances and special permits.  In addition, in response to Mr. Davis' comments that there are rumors of Oxbow offering to relocate Seahorse Riding Club on landfill land and negotiating with Supervisor Knabe staff, City Manager Doug Prichard replied that he had personally spoken to Don Knabe's Deputy, who had no knowledge of any such dealings, and who then advised Knabe's staff not to engage in any such discussions with Oxbow. Davis also noted that City-owned land being used by Seahorse (pipe corrals) should NEVER be sold to Frank Hill or anyone else who plans to use the land for anything other than equestrian use.