Planners deny zoning change for chickens

Despite a city staff recommendation that it support the measure, the Planning Board voted 3-2 against supporting a change to the city’s zoning code to allow backyard chicken-keeping.

The board heard arguments for and against urban chicken-keeping at its Nov. 29 meeting. Those concerns included, noise and smell from the chicken coops, as well as questions about hurricane tie downs for the enclosures.

Supporters, who formed a group called Citizens Lobbying for Urban Chicken Keeping, or CLUCK, said chickens are no noisier or smellier than dogs or other pets and believe chickens are unfairly held to a higher standard.

They said chickens allow owners to have their own source of fresh eggs, teach children about sources of food and responsible pet owning and provide fertilizer for plants.

Chicken-keeping supporters had agreed to a number of restrictions, including putting enclosures 10 feet from their property line; chickens kept only in the backyard; no roosters; no slaughtering; and chickens only at single-family homes.

Urban chicken-keeping will next go before the City Commission.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].