Knightdale — Town Council heard a proposal to make changes to its zoning ordinance to make it compatible with the needs of small farms.

Planner Jeff Triezenberg told the council last Monday the town currently didn’t have a provision in the ordinance that addresses farms less than 10 acres in size.

Triezenberg said the plan to expand the town’s extraterritorial planning jurisdiction had raised concerns by residents who live there.

If the ETJ is expanded, Knightdale’s zoning will apply instead of county zoning.

Owners of horses, and boarding and riding facilities appealed to the planning staff for the change, Triezenberg said.

One of the recommendations of the proposal is that animals on farms must be corralled behind 5-foot fences. It also specifies that barns and other outbuildings must be 200 feet from a residence built before the barn or outbuilding.

Barns and outbuildings already in place that don’t meet the rules would be grandfathered in. Repairs could be made, but not expansions.

John VanValkenburgh, who owns a farm on Bunn Farm Road, said he wanted his horse barn near his home.

He asked if the amendment could be worded so that homeowners could have their barns closer to their home if they wished. He said that would not bother neighbors.

He also said some animals might not need a 5-foot fence, and that council should consider that when making an amendment.

Chris King, whose wife teaches horseback riding at their farm off Horton Road, also advised that the 5-foot requirement, which would work for horses, also could pose a problem for other animals.

“This is not perfect,” said Councilman Jeff Eddins. “We may need to change it in the future.”

Council sent the amendment to the zoning ordinance to the Land Use Review Board for its recommendation.