The pony and horse ranch in Weißensee is threatened with extinction.
The building committee rejected the subsequent approval of illegal buildings at the request of Füssen-Land.
On Wednesday morning, Sandra Ringmann was still in shock. The evening before, the building committee decided, completely surprisingly, to discontinue the master plan procedure for their pony and horse ranch at the request of the Füssen-Land parliamentary group. In addition, the committee members recommended the Ostallgäu District Office to order the demolition of all black buildings - although a solution was on the table. That could mean the end for the ranch. Nevertheless, Ringmann is combative: I won't give up that easily! "
Things looked quite different at the July meeting. Even then, Füssen-Land called for the land-use plan procedure to be discontinued, as due to the entire history, trust in the ranch operator had been lost. In the summer, however, the majority of the councils were in favor of giving Ringmann until September to find the necessary compensation areas for the black buildings. Because it depended on whether or not a development plan could be drawn up for the site. Since the pony and horse ranch in the Weißensee district of Brand is located in an outdoor area that is sensitive to nature conservation law, it was not that easy (the district
messenger
reported several times).
In order to ensure the existence of the facility, the city council gave the green light in 2019 to draw up a development plan and change the zoning plan. After all, the facility is a facility for the local children that also offers therapeutic riding. In 2020, the committee finally approved the corresponding preliminary drafts, which were then publicly displayed. In the course of the involvement of the authorities, however, it quickly became clear that the planning scope had to be narrowed down.
After much back and forth, a solution now emerged.
The expansion of the riding arena and the stables to accommodate the horses would have been regulated, explained Mayor Maximilian Eichstetter (CSU) to our newspaper.
However, other black structures such as the feeding station should be demolished.
This would reduce the number of compensation areas required.
And these areas are now available, said the town hall chief.
The plan was therefore to include the building boundary in the development plan so closely around the building edges that "nothing more could have happened."
Too much speaks against it
But before it even came to a vote on Tuesday evening, the majority of the councilors had already approved Füssen-Land's application not to pursue the development plan any further and to repeal the city council resolution of 2019. “We see the facility as important and good. Especially the therapeutic riding for children is to be emphasized ”, said Christian Schneider (Füssen-Land). However, there are many reasons against subsequent legalization. A permit for the black buildings would not only cause resentment among the population, it would also set a precedent in the source moor area, according to Füssen-Land.
In addition, the district office had already forbidden the owner to develop any further buildings when she bought the property.
Leased compensation areas of the city were also misused as pasture areas, repeated prohibitions by the Lower Nature Conservation Authority were ignored and discussions with the owner had not led to any result.
Rather, construction continued without a permit.
In addition, there is no agricultural privilege for the farm.
“If you had an agriculture, you would have to reckon with controls that your business would not withstand,” the electorate is convinced.
Accordingly, photos should show how manure water runs into the adjacent stream.
Last but not least, the courtyard is next to a residential area.
The infrastructure with only one access to the property is extremely unfavorable and causes conflicts.
That would be shown by the 19 statements of citizens in the land-use plan procedure, who expressed their concerns.
If the committee rejects subsequent legalization, it would also "send a strong signal to the outside world that the order (first approve then build - editor's note) must be adhered to," said Schneider.
The majority of the city councilors saw it that way too, because they approved the motion with a narrow majority.
Operator is shocked
“I'm a little speechless,” said the mayor, surprised by this development.
A proper operation of the pony and horse ranch is no longer possible, he told the
messenger
.
Ranch owner Sandra Ringmann confirmed this when our newspaper asked.
“Where are the horses supposed to go?
They cannot stand in the open. ”According to her statement, the black buildings are a shelter for horses and a tent in which they live.
In addition, an area was filled with sand.
“We didn't build great buildings,” said Ringmann.
The morning after the building committee's decision, she was still in shock.
After all, the city council assured her two years ago that it would help her.
"We fought for two years, fulfilled all the requirements and signed the urban development contract," said Ringmann.
“We coordinated everything with the authorities.” She leased compensation areas and built parking spaces so that there would be no more trouble with cars parked on the roadside, and spent a lot of money on drawing up the development plan - apparently in vain.
"There was a huge financial loss."
Owner wants to keep fighting
She could not believe that a group of voters from their own part of the city put obstacles in their way. “We don't hurt anyone.” At the same time, she was also combative. “I don't give up that easily!” After all, livelihoods and jobs are at stake. Too many people are attached to her business that is worth fighting for, says the ranch owner. Not only do 18 horses live on their farm, there are also seven permanent employees. In addition, 200 riding students spend their free time on the farm. For the next steps, she will now contact her lawyer.
