NEW
RIVER – Battle lines are being drawn over a controversial
riding arena in New River.
On
one side is a group of horse enthusiasts who erected an
arena on Michael Wright’s 5‑acre
property for the express purpose of having neighborhood
practice events there on a regular
basis.
On
the other side is homeowner Tricia Males who says she
heads a group opposed to the facility, citing a county
ordinance against operating a business in an area not
zoned for commercial use.
Wright
contends he and his friends are not conducting a business
or using the arena for anything but friendly riding events.
“Riding
horses is a big deal out here in New River,” Wright said.
“I moved here because of the lifestyle. It is not our
intention to offend anybody or break any laws. We built
the arena because I found out I couldn’t build anything
else on this piece of property because of restrictions,
so we decided to build an arena where we could get together,
compete and have some fun.”
The
group practices cattle penning twice a week from 7‑9
p.m.
“We
don’t charge any admission,” Wright said. “The only thing
we ask is for riders to chip in to help pay for hay to
feed the cattle. It can get pretty expensive.” Participants
at Wright’s arena say there are no entry fees, prize money
or trophies.
Males,
who lives approximately a half mile from the arena, disagrees,
saying Wright is indeed running a business.
“I
found a flyer in my yard advertising one of his events,”
she said. “It’s not for just him and his buddies. Some
nights there may be as many as 100 people there. There’s
a lot of noise and dust. If we’d wanted to live in a dense
area, we could have moved to Anthem next to the ball park.
“Plus,
we don’t want a zoning change to allow a business to operate.
There’s already an arena in New River where they can go.”
Both
sides agree the dispute is far from over. Males filed
a complaint with the county code enforcement department
to have Wright cease operations at the arena site.
“We
had a preliminary hearing with the (Maricopa County) Planning
and Zoning Department on June 28,” Males said. “This has
been going on for months–since last year. The hearing
officer gave them until the end of July to cease operating
a public business. They started building the arena without
permits. They were backfilling into Skunk Creek. And the
adjoining property has to be brought up to code. There
are a lot of issues. This whole affair is probably still
going to push some buttons.”
A
county report alleges Wright’s group charged as much as
$35 per rider entry fee and a
$10 feed fee to participate in the team penning. In addition,
there is lighting of the arena which, according to the
report, creates glare and discomfort to a nearby resident.
The hearing officer
ruled in favor of Males and assessed a $300 noncompliance
fine and a $30 daily fine for
the 22 days of penning events occurring at the arena this
year.
The
daily fine is to be suspended if the group has ceased
operations by July 30–which they have done.
“They
didn’t technically shut us down,” Wright said. “The judge
thought we were running a business. She (Males) started
complaining the minute we broke ground. She didn’t even
know what we were doing. We haven’t been able to get away
from her.”
The
Wright camp has filed for a special use permit with the
county, a process which could take up to a year.
In
the meantime, the group is moving to the Larkyn Memorial
Arena at Kiwanis Community Park in New River.
“We’re
moving to Larkyn to keep this thing from getting real
ugly,” Wright said. “We don’t like
having to go from here, where it costs nothing, to paying
$800 a month for a place. They want $100 a night at Larkyn,
and
we go two nights a week. Plus, we have to move the cattle
down there and move them back
every night and buy feed. It’s very frustrating. She doesn’t
have any idea as to what she’s
started.”
