The Alpharetta City Council has approved, with conditions, a proposed Halpern Equestrian Center where people with and without special needs can interact with horses.

The applicant, Leslie Halpern, requested a conditional use permit for the 9-acre residential property at 1200 Rucker Road, according to a staff report to the council. The site has a single-family home, barn and riding arena. Therapies would be offered to those with physical, cognitive and emotional issues.

Halpern currently operates a small hobby farm on the property. According to the applicant, the Equestrian Center would operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and possibly Saturday, with up to two therapist employees seeing one client at a time for one-hour sessions.

Staff recommended the conditional use, affirming the proposed hours of operation and specifying ADA-compliant restrooms, limits on spillover lighting, a maximum sign size of 12 square feet, and that the conditional use cease when the property is sold or transferred.

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