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Home My WebLink About#3- Ordinance Amendment Chickens Memo To: Planning Commission Members From: Justin Fortney, Associate Planner Date: June 22, 2009 SubjectAmend Ordinance 91.02, 155.07, & 155.36- Keeping of Chickens : REQUEST 1. The Planning Commission is asked to hold a Public Hearing to amend City Code Chapter 91.02 - keeping [Animals] 155.07 - Special Provisions and 155.36 – PI (Public Institutional). The amendment would allow the keeping of chickens in the PI district with Planning Commission review and City Council approval. 2. The Planning Commission is also asked to evaluate a request by a citizen to amend the ordinance to also allow chickens in residential zoning districts. If the Planning Commission is inclined to review the request, staff recommends tabling both items. This would allow time make necessary changes to the proposed ordinance. BACKGROUND The Dakota County Historical Society made a written request for the City to modify the ordinance to allow them to keep chickens at the LeDuc Mansion. They would like to keep about 12 chickens at the LeDuc during their open season to interpret the agricultural aspect of William G. LeDuc’s life. The Planning Department met with the City Council Planning Committee to see how this should proceed as an amendment. They instructed staff to bring the request forward to the Planning Commission and City Council as an amendment to the PI zoning district. Since that direction was given to the Planning Department, another formal request was submitted to the Planning Department to allow chickens in residential zoning districts. Rather than scheduling another meeting with the Council Planning Committee to see how this request should proceed, staff is proposing that the Planning Commission determine if the proposal has support and is worth exploring. If so, the Planning Commission may table both requests and direct staff to adjust the proposed amendment to fit both types of zoning districts and make any additional notifications. In the past year, staff has had a few citizens inquire if chickens are allowed as pets in residential areas. OTHER COMMUNITIES th Many Cities like Hastings adopted their first zoning codes in the first half of the 20 century and limited farm animals to agricultural districts. In the last decade, many cities have modified their ordinances to allow chickens in nonagricultural districts. This is for a variety of reasons including recent immigration of diverse cultures, increased focus on local organic food, concerns about the treatment of production chickens, as pets, or in the case of the LeDuc, as part of an interpretive museum. Some large cities that allow chickens in all or most zoning districts include: Mobile, AL Atlanta, GA St. Louis, MO Nashville, TN Berkeley, CA Des Moines, IA Raleigh, NC Austin, TX Long Beach, CA. Sioux City, IA. Lincoln, NE Dallas, TX Los Angeles, CA. Boise, ID Omaha, NE Fort Worth, TX Oakland, CA Chicago, IL Albuquerque, NM Houston, TX Sacramento, CA. Indianapolis, IN Santa Fe, NM San Antonio, TX San Jose, CA Topeka, KS Las Vegas, NV Salt Lake City, UT San Francisco, CA Louisville, KY NY, NY. Burlington, VT Denver, CO Boston, MA Eugene, OR Seattle, WA Hartford, CT Baltimore, MD Portland, OR Spokane, WA Miami, FL Ann Arbor, MI Pittsburgh, PA Green Bay, WI Madison, WI Some local cities that allow chickens in all or most zoning district include: Minneapolis Anoka Brainerd Roseville St. Paul Rochester Duluth Burnsville Rosemount Otsego Monticello Fergus Falls The above cities regulate chickens in vastly different ways. Some cities like Roseville, classifies chickens as suburban hobby pets with no specific regulations. Other cities like Minneapolis allow them with an administrative permit as long as the applicant has at least 80% written approval from neighbors within 100 feet. As shown in the proposed ordinance amendment, chickens would be allowed in the PI district with restrictions and a public hearing. Notification Owners of and within 350’ of property zoned PI were notified about the proposed amendment. A legal notice was placed in the Star Gazette stating that there have been multiple requests to allow chickens in nonagricultural districts for which there will be a public hearing. No comments have been received at this time. PI ZONING LOCATION MAP Attachments Ordinance Amendment Letters requesting modifications to allow chickens in nonagricultural zones ORDINANCE AMENDMENT § 155.07 SPECIAL PROVISIONS. (H) Keeping of chickens. (1)Purpose. The purpose of this division is to provide a means, through the establishment of specific standards and procedures, by which chickens can be kept in areas that are principally not used for agriculture. It is recognized that the keeping of chickens is clearly incidental and subordinate to the primary use and will not be allowed to negatively affect the character, health, safety, or general welfare of the surrounding area. (2)Regulations. The keeping of chickens requires a license to be granted by the City Council. The following conditions are requirements of the license. (a)No roosters are permitted. (b)No more than 20 chickens. (c)Minimum lot size of four (4) acres. (d)Confinement restrictions. Chickens must be kept and confined as follows: 1.Covered enclosure that provides protection from the elements and predators. The required enclosure must be setback 25 feet from residential structures on adjoining lots. 2.Fenced area to keep the chickens contained on the property. 3.They must be confined to the enclosure or fenced area at all times. 4.Food containers and feeders must not be accessible to rodents and wild birds. 5.Sanitary conditions must be maintained. 6.Stored fecal mater shall not be allowed to accumulate on the property. Stored fecal matter shall be removed at least once a week. 7.Injury or annoyance to others. No chicken may be kept or raised in a manner as to cause injury or annoyance to persons or other animals on other property in the vicinity by reason of noise, odor, or filth. 8.Impounding chicken. Any chicken at large in violation of this section may be impounded by the City, and after being impounded for five (5) business days or more without being reclaimed by the owner, may be humanly euthanized or sold. A person reclaiming any impounded chicken shall pay the cost of impounding and keeping the same. (3)License. Keeping chickens requires a license to be granted by the City Council. (a)Notification of all property owners within 350 feet of the property at least 10 days prior to the Planning Commission Public Hearing at which the chicken license is to be reviewed. Failure of a property owner to receive the notice shall not invalidate any such proceedings as set forth within this code. (b)The license shall not run with the land and shall not be transferable. (c)If the license is approved by the City Council, the Planning Department shall inspect the property to determine if all of the provisions of this section are met prior to issuing the license. (d)The City Council may revoke the license if the conditions of this section are not followed or if unresolved nuisances arise. § 155.36 PI PUBLIC INSTITUTION. (B) Uses permitted. (8) Keeping chickens pursuant to 155.07 § 91.02 KEEPING. It is unlawful for any person to keep any animal, not in transit, in any part of the city not zoned for agricultural purposes. (A)Exceptions. 1. Chickens subject to § 155.07. LeDuc Request to allow chickens Chickens at the LeDuc Historic Estate Purpose : The LeDuc family raised chickens on their home farm. In an attempt to interpret the agricultural aspect of William G. LeDuc’s life, the gardeners and staff would like to keep a dozen chickens (hens) through the Summer months. During Summer Camp, students would learn about caring for animals. Visitors throughout the summer would be able to imagine the area around the Carriage Barn as a “farm”. Method : The chickens would be housed in a small confined area on the south side of the Carriage Barn when they were first delivered. The floor in that area will be covered with a sheet of plywood to prevent it from becoming saturated with the chicken droppings. The droppings will be cleaned out and put into a composting area. (Chicken droppings are good composting material.) As they grow they will be moved to the lean-to portion of the Carroll Simmons Shed during the night and will have a fenced in portion of yard to use in that area. Budget : 12 chickens @ $1.60 $ 19.20 Feed approx. $100.00 $119.20 Final Chapter : The chickens would be butchered, cleaned, and cooked for dinner during the Civil War Weekend. This process would be repeated each year if it is successful. Citizen request to allow chickens is residential areas Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Subject: residential chickens I would like the city to look at amending the ordinance to allow chickens/poultry in residential areas of the city. I live on 3rd St. near Tilden and would like to be able to have a few chickens for eggs, meat, and the manure they provide. Larger cities (Madison and Minneapolis, for example) allow this and it could work in Hastings also. Please consider this request. Nancy Moe, 719 Third St. West