Permit keeps Suffolk horse-riding program going

SUFFOLK

A horse-riding program for troubled youths will live on in its current location after it narrowly passed a City Council vote Wednesday.

The operation faced opposition from neighbors over concerns of crime and traffic, but a strong showing by supporters won out. Council members voted 4-3 to approve the permit request by Anthony Hooper to keep the program at the farm he rents off Lake Point Road.

Shawn Hill was one of seven people besides Hooper who spoke in favor of his request. She said she and her three daughters all ride at the farm and told the council how the experience has taught responsibility to her children.

"The future of our children is definitely at stake," Hill said.

Hooper runs the riding program as part of his mentoring outfit, 7 Cities Outreach. Last year, he moved the riding portion of the program from Hampton to Suffolk.

City staff investigated Hooper's horse program in the fall after receiving complaints from neighbors, Planning Director Scott Mills said.

It was concluded that Hooper needed a conditional-use permit to run commercial stables at the site, and he began working on compliance, Mills said.

Hooper's request appeared in jeopardy last month when the Planning Commission overwhelmingly recommended denial after hearing from several of his neighbors. Two spoke again Wednesday.

Louis Bodie said he believed Hooper's ultimate intent is to use the farm as a retreat for children in trouble with the law. He said the area was not safe for children.

Another neighbor, Patty Letchworth, said Hooper had told her husband he would be accepting children from juvenile facilities. Hooper later denied that.

"We take extremely, extremely low-risk kids," he said.

Mayor Linda Johnson and councilmen Charles Parr and Joe Barlow voted against the request. Barlow said he recently visited the site after a rain and agreed with some of the neighbors that the narrow gravel road that serves the farm could not take much more traffic.

After a lengthy discussion, Councilman Jeff Gardy spoke for Hooper's program. He said he was the attorney who helped get another controversial youth program passed years ago despite opposition from neighbors: the Hampton Roads Youth Center.

That project also passed by a 4-3 council vote, Gardy recalled.

"I'm also proud to say that the Hampton Roads Youth center has been a very productive item," Gardy said. "I guess it's part of my nature that I like to see kids have an opportunity."

Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster@pilotonline.com