Stable southeast of Lodi approved

Jose Olguin's horse stable and training center southeast of Lodi is legal for use now that the San Joaquin County Planning Commission approved an application by Jose Olguin Sr. on Thursday night.

Olguin and his son, Jose Olguin Jr., have had a boarding stable for up to 20 horses for two years on the south side of Harney Lane, a half-mile east of Highway 88. But these aren't your average horses.

These horses have the potential to compete at race tracks. One horse that has been trained there actually won a race at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, and another horse is scheduled to race there in December, Olguin Jr. said.

The stable also has a 1,320-foot-long race track, complete with starting gates, so they can test the horses' performance. As many as 200 people come occasionally to see how their horse measures up.

The only problem was that the Olguins constructed the stables, tracks and other amenities without a permit from the county.

The issue came to the county's attention after the Olguins held a rodeo without acquiring a permit, according to senior planner Rick Griffin. The Olguins deny ever holding a rodeo on the property.

Nevertheless, Olguin Jr. said that he and his father are in the process of formulating a business plan, which will eventually include an exercise pool for horses.

Training activities and practice races are generally held on Sundays because Olguin owns Grapevines Nursery in Napa, where he is also a farm labor contractor.

Jude Drapan, who lives on

Hibbard Road and can see the horse property from her ranch, told Planning Commissioners that the horse track generates a lot of dust, and she hears loud music there. Drapan also expressed traffic concerns and wondered if the animals are being treated properly.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

Highway 12 sign hearing postponed

For the second time, a public hearing on Sunset Signs' request to construct a lighted commercial sign on the south side of Highway 12 in Flag City has been postponed.

The San Joaquin County Planning Commission granted Sunset Signs owner Shawn Pemberton's request to postpone the hearing until Jan. 7. It was scheduled to be heard on Thursday.

Pemberton's sign application was approved this year by the county's Community Development Department, but competing sign manufacturer Rogers Media appealed the county's approval to the Planning Commission.

Pemberton wants to build a 672-square-foot sign measuring 14 feet long and 48 feet wide on Highway 12, just east of Star Street. Plans call for illuminated signs on both sides.

News-Sentinel staff

Reader Feedback

curveball wrote on Nov 20, 2009 5:24 AM:

" 200 people don't show up to watch their horses workout,,,,sounds more like match races to me. "

Report Abuse

Comments on this story are now closed.

Archives

Story Tools

Indexes