Leominster City Council is taking steps to prohibit horse and dog racing within city limits following a public hearing on petition 41-25. The proposal, presented by resident Lisa Nugent, seeks to amend local zoning laws to ban all forms of racing and associated betting activities.

Chairperson Susan Shalifu Zephyr of the Legal Affairs Committee led the discussion, emphasizing the importance of the proposed amendments. The changes would define a racetrack and explicitly list it as a prohibited use in all business districts within Leominster. This initiative has been under consideration since late March, with the public hearing initially opened on May 12.

The council decided to continue the public hearing to June 23, allowing for further discussion and input from the community. No public comments were taken during this session, as the council aims to streamline the process with another public hearing scheduled for June 16 by the planning board.

The decision to keep the public hearing open reflects the council's commitment to thorough deliberation on the matter. The outcome of this proposal could significantly impact local zoning regulations and the community's stance on commercial racing activities. Further updates will be provided as the council reconvenes to finalize the details of the upcoming hearing.