Two newest Saugus residents are horses

SAUGUS – Chester and Monty are coming to town.The two fine-bred horses will soon take up residence in Saugus, in a brand new stable the Board of Selectmen gave their owners permission to construct at 500 Main St.For horse lovers Eugene and Geraldine Capobianco, the special permit is a dream come true. The four-stall structure will be nestled amid the four-acre spread they have owned for the past 25 years.The special permit allows the couple to build a paddock for four horses at least 100 feet from the closest abutting neighbor. Under state law, only 50 feet is required, but the Capobiancos agreed to the deeper border.Selectman Scott Crabtree put a stipulation on the special permit that restricts the Capobiancos to keeping only two horses on the property, at least until it can be shown the animals do not disturb the neighbors or prompt any public health problems.According to Capobianco, a private security specialist and owner of Cappy’s Electrical Co., state law allows landowners with this amount of acreage to house up to four horses. The special permit issued by the selectmen is solely for the barn and paddock, he said.”We are horse people. We know how to train them, clean them and care for them,” Capobianco told selectmen in an effort to alleviate concerns.The special permit for a stable is relatively unusual in a town where residential subdivisions are gobbling up what remains of the open space. Capobiancos are not permitted to board horses or domestic animals owned by others. Further, the stable cannot exceed 20 feet in height and the couple must apply to the Board of Health for permission to stable more than two horses.The stable will be outfitted with a gas detector, smoke detector, and be inspected by the Fire Department as part of the special permit provisions. Selectmen noted for the record opposition to the construction from Robert and Annmarie Delorfano, 93 Juniper Drive, who claim they can smell manure emanating from the Capobianco property.”We felt like we were having dinner at the Topsfield Fair rodeo show,” the Delorfanos wrote in a letter to selectmen, describing a summer backyard barbecue. The Delofanos also told the board they are bothered by noise from ongoing excavation on the property at all hours.Capobianco assured the board his land is mostly ledge where it borders the Delofanos whose home is 30 feet below and that no excavation is under way at odd hours. He also emphasized no manure has been on his land for more than a decade. “There has never been a horse on the property,” he said.Both Monty and Chester are currently living out of state until their new stable is ready for occupancy. Capobianco carries their photographs electronically in his cell phone along with those of other horses.