Support, dissent both aired at meeting to reveal center’s plans, needs

From Horsetrader staff reports

TEMECULA — Galway Downs owner Ken Smith hosted a well-attended presentation Feb. 19 to announce plans and hear public comments in the wake of January requests his team made to Riverside County planners. Along with Galway Downs Manager Robert Kellerhouse and land use consultant Alan Long, all three took turns at the mic to field questions. The almost two-hour forum was at times heated — especially when traffic caused by soccer events at Galway was broached — and at times supportive: the mention of Galway Downs’s proposed hosting of the 2028 Olympic Games equestrian events drew a loud ovation.

Galway Downs is a 242-acre centerpiece to the equestrian region of southwest Riverside County. Originally opened in 1968 as a racehorse training facility, it now hosts equestrian competitions, trainers and services. It lies within the area’s Wine Country Community Plan, a formal guideline adopted in 2014 and then incorporated into the County’s General Plan to recognize and preserve the area’s equestrian and vineyard elements.

At a public hearing Jan. 13 of the Riverside County General Plan Advisory Committee, Long presented on behalf of Smith a request to alter the General Plan. The proposal would remove three of six parcels belonging to Galway Downs owner from current rural zoning to commercial. Also, the request asks to remove current Equestrian District designation of three parcels, instead designating them as part of the Wine District.

At the Feb. 19 presentation, Long and Kellerhouse explained why, saying the facility’s equestrian-oriented future will require ancillary income outside horse activities.

“When researching other premier equestrian centers, two things were abundantly clear,” said Long. “One is that the larger the facility, the harder it is to sustain financially, and those that didn’t find other revenue streams closed. The other is the California cost to do business. It’s a surprise any large facility can remain open on equestrian revenue alone.”

Kellerhouse added that the facility has not been sustainable for 50 years.

“The truth is, the venue turned the corner because the property has become stable,” Kellerhouse said. “It’s become stable because it has four legs to stand on: lodging, soccer, weddings and horses. All of us help contribute to make this place go. It’s all about keeping 242 acres of land intact.”

Long said more specific plans for land use will follow application review processes. In the meantime, he encouraged community input from equestrians.

“Ken looked at this from an equestrian standpoint and said, ‘based on our current codes and ordinances, what can we do with property that staddles Highway 79 in some sort of equestrian fashion?’,” Long told the audience.

“Ken is not trying to shove a square peg into a round hole. If you are that opposed to it, and you think this will change the environment of an equestrian world, he’ll take it off the table. I’m telling you that right now.”

A subsequent public meeting March 6 was conducted by Riverside County Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington alongside county Planning Director John Hildebrand and Director of Transporation Dennis Acuma, drawing more than 100 attendees to the Ron Roberts Library. Supervisor Washington, said the informational session was to “meeting was “to give some information,’ So, tonight we’re going “to revisit the wine country plan and talk specifically about not only the equestrian district, but how do we preserve not only the wine country plan, but the equestrian district and what it envisioned.”