have responded to Acme Township after the township warned May 12 that shows may be prevented due to 21 unresolved township violations.
The violations range from visitor safety issues and dust control to changes for fire lanes and parking.
In a statement, Traverse City Horse Shows said:
“We would like to assure all athletes, partners, vendors and spectators that the property will open for competition on June 8 and will host 13 weeks of competition, including the coveted Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – East, FEI North American Youth Championships, Major League Show Jumping, TCHS Hunter and Derby Finals and more.
Flintfield’s Horse Park is located in Acme Township, which has historically regulated operations at the facility through its zoning ordinance. Expansions and upgrades to the facility have been approved and are moving forward with all appropriate permissions. At this time, Traverse City Horse Shows is proceeding with preparing Flintfield’s Horse Park for the beginning of the 2022 season.”
The statement from Acme Township reads, in part:
“Violations of Acme Township and Grand Traverse County regulations on the TCHS site were first identified in Spring, 2021, just weeks ahead of the 2021 season’s June start date. Acme Township, working with TCHS in good faith to identify all violations, did not shut down operations for the 2021 horse show season.
On April 5, 2022, the Acme Township Board of Trustees approved a Special Use Permit for TCHS that included over twenty (20) conditions to be satisfied prior to the opening of the TCHS 2022 season. Conditions outlined in the special use permit address violations and speak to the health, safety, and welfare of participants, public, neighbors, and community: organized, adequate parking; proper access for fire and ambulance services; pedestrian walkways; storm water containment during heavy rains; manure management; dust control, dirt and debris management on Bates Road; landscaping buffers to shield view from neighbors’ properties; obtaining all relevant permits from other agencies; and more.
On April 28, 2022, and with no specified conditions met, as yet, by TCHS, Acme Township’s attorney received a letter from TCHS’ attorney requesting certain considerations and waivers.
If conditions approved by the Township Board at its April 5, 2022, meeting are not addressed ahead of TCHS 2022 opening in June, Acme Township will order that TCHS cease and desist its operations for the 2022 season.”
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