Couple receives special use permit to develop lots
by Becky Uehling
Grant Tribune-Sentinel
A vision for Jason and Ashleigh Noyes to provide a way for youth who live inside city limits to raise an animal for 4-H or FFA inched one step closer to reality on Tuesday, Nov. 22, when the Grant City Council approved a special use permit for the Noyes’ land that lies just south of town, but within city limits.
The permit will allow the couple to proceed with work on the property, formerly known as Tharp’s Sale Lots, to allow them, along with other families, to house animals for projects. This includes building of fencing, show rings, and other facilities for the animals.
Ashleigh Noyes said the process for the development of the property will take some time, but renovations are being made to accommodate current projects of 4-Hers who have already contracted for space on the property.
The approval of the permit follows the council’s decision on Nov. 8 to rezone the area from industrial to agricultural, also on request from the couple.
In the couple’s request for the application it stated the area for the animals will be fenced and secured, with each animal having adequate stall space along with availability of an exercise area where youth can work with the animals.
Animals that could be housed on the property could include larger animals, such as cows, or smaller animals such as goats, pigs, sheep, or chickens, the application said.
The couple stressed that the animals housed on the property will be nearly domesticated, because they will be hand raised from a young age.
The animals will “not (be) just wild animals placed on a lot to run wild,” according to the application.
The application said the couple will closely monitor each animal they take onto their property, along with those who are on the property.
The application stated that the maximum number of animals per species that could be housed would be approximately as follows: 10 poultry, eight hogs, 16 goals or sheep, 10 steers or heifers, four calves. The animals would not be on the property for the same amount of time, with each having a different growing season, according to the application.
Other Uses
Along with providing a space for youth to house animals, the couple stated they would like to potentially use the space for a holiday/seasonal venues of such things as a pumpkin patch, hay bale maze, petting zoo, farmer’s market, flea market, an area for other 4-H projects, and other options. The Noyeses welcome ideas from the public for the area.
“We would love to hear of any other options or ideas that members of the community might have for the property,” the application stated. “We want it to be used for fun, for family activities, and for community involvement and growth.”
Those who would like to take a look at the couple’s entire application can do so by requesting a copy from the City of Grant, or from the Noyeses themselves. Families interested in renting stalls should contact Noyeses and discuss what options they can provide for them.