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Home My WebLink About[05] Back Yard Chickens, Public InputCITY OF KT. J()SKPH MEETING DATE: October 7, 2010 Council Agenda Item 5 AGENDA ITEM: Back Yard Chickens, Public Input SUBMITTED BY: Administration BOARD /COMMISSION /COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: At the August 2 Planning Commission meeting, the Planning Commission received a request from a property owner on 3rd Avenue SE to amend the Ordinance to allow chickens in a R1 Zoning District. At that meeting the Planning Commission requested staff to provide additional information for discussion purposes. At the September Planning Commission meeting the staff presented the Commission with samples of Ordinances from communities in Minnesota that do allow chickens within a municipal boundary. The Planning Commission recommended the City Council authorize the expenditure to research and prepare a draft Ordinance that would allow Chickens in an R1 Zoning District. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: The City Council on September 16, 2010 considered the recommendation of the Planning Commission and agreed to accept public input on the topic before expending funds to draft a proposed Ordinance for public hearing. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: BUDGET /FISCAL IMPACT: Potential expenditure to draft Ordinance Amendment ATTACHMENTS: Request for Council Consideration 5:1 -2 Planning Commission Cover sheet, Aug 2 5:3 -4 Email, Susan Sink 5:5 Anonymous letter from resident 5:6 REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Determine if the staff should proceed with drafting an Ordinance Amendment that would allow for chickens in a R1 Zoning District. THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Planning Commission Agenda Item 6 CITY OF bT. J(?BwMi MEETING DATE: August 2, 2010 AGENDA ITEM: Paul Krey, Discussion on housing Chickens in R1 Zoning District. SUBMITTED BY: Administration /Police PREVIOUS PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: None BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Police Department became aware of a property housed 12 chickens and notified the property owner that they had to get rid of the Chickens. He was unaware of the Ordinance and would like to address the Planning Commission about allowing chickens in residential areas. I have contacted the area Cities and as to their allowance for chickens and their response Is copied below. Paul Krey is the property owner with the Chickens and he will be present at the Planning Commission meeting to see if the Commission would allow such in residential areas. He stated that the website backyardchicken.org is a good reference site for information. The Planning Commission agenda has been amended to include Paul. Sartell only allows non - domestic animals in our agricultural and in our rural residential zones. Anita M. Rasmussen, AICP Planning and Community Development Director City of Sartell We define chickens as a farm animal and we only allow farm animals in areas that are zoned Ag. Todd Schultz City of Sauk Rapids Community Development Director Our ordinance does not allow an wild, undomesticated or exotic animal to remain within the City Umits. Chickens would fall under the bird category which is a species usually not domesticated. The only area that they would be permitted is in a agricultural zoning district. Bill Barber Building & Planning Coordinator City of Waite Park Matt Glaesmon forwarded me your question regarding chickens. In 2009 we had a significant revision to our animal control ordinance Section 1040. There was some discussion then about requests to allow chickens in residential zones. In doing some research, yes there are some Minnesota cities that allow it. Generally they do not allow roosters due to the noise issue. We found anecdotally that many residents were also against it. Please keep in mind that animals are not only raised for their eggs. Some people may raise chickens to butcher. There is nothing in our ordinance that would prohibit butchering for oneself. I think the area deer hunters practice this seasonally in many garages. The Animal Control Task Force, Health and Housing Advisory and Appeals Committee, and City Council all voted to limit what was defined as a domestic and a non- domestic animal. It is through these definitions that poultry is only allowed in rural residential and agricultural areas. Lynn Moore of the City of Bloomington was working on an enforcement case regarding chickens owned by a particularly wealthy homeowner in their city. She might also be able to lend an interesting perspective. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance ATTACHMENTS: None REQUESTED PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Determine whether staff should pursue researching drafting an Ordinance Amendment or if the matter should a referred to the City Council. Judy Weyrens From: Sink, Susan [SSINK @CSBSJU.EDU] Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 1:32 PM To: Judy Weyrens Subject: support of backyard chickens Dear City Council Members, I'm writing in support of creating an ordinance that allows backyard chickens within the city limits of St. Joseph. I live in the township and we have chickens on our property. We also have friends, the Ebels, who live in the township and have chickens on a much smaller property. They are delightful. They are easy to care for, do not create much waste —all of the waste is used by us as garden compost, which some people pay to get! They oddly enough stay in a certain territory and always come home at night to roost. The eggs are delicious, nutritious and safe. There are many places that allow backyard chickens, including Los Angeles and Denver. Raising chickens is part of our heritage of farming and one of the things that makes small town St. Joseph such a special place. I would imagine it would not be difficult to adapt another town's ordinance to suit our needs. I would be willing to work on a committee of volunteers to do such a thing. Thank you, and I do hope you'll consider the request. Susan Sink 2964195`h avenue St. Joseph, MN 56374 320 - 363 -0132 ssink @csbsiu.edu '{"GO.�,y August 8, 2010 Dear City Council of St. Joseph, I am a resident of St. Joseph and enjoy living here. I was present at the public hearing on August 2 "d, 2010. One of the issues at this hearing was raised by a gentleman who wanted to raise chickens on his property. I wanted to share my opinion on this matter as a citizen of the town. Personally, I do not want my neighbors raising chickens next to my home. I do not wanted this because chickens own a very unpleasant smell and are quite noisy. I have personally lived next to a family that raised chickens in the past and to this day I will not forget the distinct smell and sounds of those feathered friends. It is my belief that chickens, pigs, cows, etc. should be raised on farms where there is more space for the animals and the neighbors to live harmoniously. I ask that the council take this opinion into consideration as you weigh in on whether or not to allow this gentleman to raise his chickens at his house. If one person begins to raise chickens than other neighbors may do the same to the discomfort of the community around them. Thank you for your time and consideration and I hope that this letter helps inform you of one community member's opinion. Best Regards, A concerned local citizen of St. Joseph