Dec 17, 2014 2 min read

McMURRAY – Peters Township zoning hearing board turned down a request from a township resident Tuesday for a variance to keep his daughter’s horse on his property.

Fred Gerace, who lives at 161 Elm Grove Drive, said there are horses less than a mile from his home and land, which totals 1.068 acres.

“I don’t think I am hurting Peters Township,” said Gerace of his request. “I will make things as presentable as possible.”

To get a variance to have a horse in Peters, the applicant’s land must total at least two acres, or he must prove the request is based on a hardship need.

“A horse is something that is not needed,” said James Federlein, zoning board chairman.

A handful of Gerace’s neighbors attended the hearing and appeared to be in agreement with Federlein’s assessment.

Dino Kotenoglou, whose property abuts Gerace’s, testified Tuesday he doesn’t have any experience around horses, but said the area is residential and not a place for horses. He and others said they are worried about the smell and impact a horse would have on property values.

“Our house has a clear line of sight,” of Gerace’s property, said Alex Franko, who spoke behalf of his family, which was against Gerace’s request. “Sixty to 70 pounds of manure are produced by a horse a day.”

Gerace’s daughter, Toni, 12, currently boards her quarter horse, Matt, at Timber Oaks Farm, an equestrian facility in nearby Finleyville. Gerace, who wasn’t surprised by the board’s decision said his daughter sees her horse almost every day, but would like to have Matt closer. Toni, he said, collected 13 signatures – on her own – from 18 of their closest neighbors in support of letting her have Matt at her house.

After the hearing, Gerace said he was not sure about his next step. He said he has an option to buy some adjacent property, which could bring him into compliance with the township land requirement. Or, he said, he may move.

“This is an important thing in her life,” he said.