IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers COWS OF CONTENTION—A neighbor and her horse pass by a house on Wrangler Road showing support for Bridle Path neighbors Randy and Margaret Miller. The sign reads "Stop the Bull. Save the Cows." The debate over the Millers' cows has divided neighbors in the equestrian community of 630 homes. A family's quest to keep its cows has pitted neighbor against neighbor for the last three months in the Bridle Path community of Simi Valley. And residents there will have to agree to disagree for a while longer, since Monday night's three-hour public hearing failed to deliver a final resolution.

After listening to testimony from 50 speakers and receiving input from 33 residents who didn't wish to speak, the City Council overturned a previous planning commission approval allowing the cows and other farm animals to stay on the property—but then sent the issue back to the Bridle Path Homeowners Association for further discussion.

Council members said the HOA should first determine, by a vote of its membership, what animals it wants to allow and then update its covenants, conditions and restrictions to reflect that decision.

"We ought to have the CC&Rs changed first before an application comes to the city for a (conditional use permit)," Mayor Paul Miller said. "This is kind of like the cart coming before the horse."

In November, the planning commission voted 4-1 to allow Randy and Margaret Miller (no relation to the mayor) to keep eight cows, two pigs and 12 hens on a portion of their 8.5-acre Meander Drive property, which is in the 630-home equestrian community on the city's southern edge.

But the mayor and Councilwoman Barbra Williamson appealed the decision a week later, stating that the Millers should have received permission from their HOA before coming to the city.

The Millers have five cows of their own and keep watch over three others that belong to a neighbor family. The oldest is a 17yearold steer named Dumber; the youngest, an 8-month-old heifer named Haley Joe.

Although the mayor lives in the Bridle Path, the city attorney said his participation in the hearing did not present a conflict of interest because he is not on the board of the HOA.

The Millers filed an application for a conditional use permit after a citizen's complaint was made against them regarding their cows, which they started keeping 17 years ago in spite of the HOA's rules.

"It's pretty sad to think that you have 8½ acres with cattle around you and you have to go look somewhere else to keep your cows," Margaret Miller said.

The family's property is in a limited farm animal overlay district, which allows residents to keep horses, goats, ducks and rabbits, but not cows, chickens or pigs. Because their lot is more than 20,000 square feet, the Millers were able to request additional animals.

A packed house inside council chambers at city hall seemed equally split Monday night between those in favor and those against granting the Millers a permit.

Those opposed said they were concerned about the depreciation of property values and of setting a precedent that would make it difficult for the HOA to enforce its CC&Rs.

"We all bought into the vision with the knowledge and assurance that it would remain that way," 17year Meander resident Bill Apodaca said. "This is a Pandora's box that should not be opened."

Resident Stuart Tapper agreed. "It's called Bridle Path, not cow path," he said. "These people have broken the rules for 17 years. . . . The fact that they did something wrong and then tried to amend it doesn't make it right."

Those in favor of the Millers' permit said they appreciate the rural feel of the neighborhood and that it was the cows that used to roam the mountain park that attracted them to Bridle Path in the first place.

A number of people described the Millers' property as "immaculate" and noted that the large size of their flag lot makes it appropriate for keeping cows.

Leland Shapiro, a bovine expert who teaches at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, said the real issue is how one cares for their animals and that a cow is no different from a horse.

"I don't think it is a question of a cow or a pig," the 22-year Bridle Path homeowner said. "I think it is how you take care of your property."

Still others spoke in favor of the permit because they support 4-H, which the Millers' daughter Heidi participates in.

Digby Sharpe, whose children are also members of 4-H, said his neighbor turned him in for keeping cows after he spoke in favor of the Millers at the planning commission meeting. Now Sharpe's cows are being kept at the Millers'.

"This whole discussion has nothing to do with cows. It has to do with two neighbors . . . that don't get along with the Millers," Sharpe said. "Those people have drawn in the whole community to where you've got neighbors arguing with one another, and it's gotten completely out of hand."

Richard Ferko, legal counsel for the Millers, said the board waived its right to enforce the CC&Rs after years of inaction.

"The board members who came up here and spoke knew there were cows there," he said. "They took no action. They didn't have a problem with it."

Williamson, who serves as treasurer for her own HOA, reprimanded the past board for not following through on their fiduciary responsibilities.

"I don't like to scold people from up here, but the people who have sat on that board and not enforced those CC&Rs, shame on you," she said. "Now we're in a big mess."

Many of the council members were saddened to see the neighborhood at odds.

"It kind of hurts me to see this community divided like this," Councilmember Steve Sojka said. "But this is a good process; it's good to vent these things out."

As part of its decision, the council directed city staff not to accept applications for conditional use permits if they conflict with a homeowners association's CC&Rs.

The council also waived the Millers' $1,800 application fee.

Margaret Miller told the Simi Valley Acorn she had mixed feelings over the night's results.

"Of course we're disappointed that we didn't get approved on our (permit), but I do understand the City Council," she said. "I do believe they are sincere and really want what works for Bridle Path residents. And having other animals up here other than horses has worked for decades."

Margaret said she would respect the decision made by the Bridle Path HOA.

"I'm pretty confident that our membership up here will do the right thing and that all of us will come together . . . I think the city is going to support this I really do," she said. "We just need to work out a few things with our HOA and hopefully we'll get through that."