Council Delays Appeals for Chicken-ship
By Jenny Boyle, Student Staff Writer, Berea College Farm
Illegal fowl in Berea will be hiding in their coops for at least another month, while the city decides how to handle chickens within town limits.
Council members voted on Tuesday to investigate conditional use permits, rather than change the existing codes, which prohibit backyard chickens by requiring a minimum of one acre of land (for up to 25 birds) and a 75-foot buffer between feathered friends and human neighbors.
Ronnie Terrill made the motion to table the proposed revision of City Ordinance 51.101 and instead amend zoning regulations to qualify chickens as a conditional use of residential property. Violet Farmer seconded the motion; none were opposed.
If the zoning changes are passed, homeowners would be required to apply for a permit with the variance board, which meets once a month. Terrill says the process involves an initial application, notification of neighbors, and a meeting for affected parties to voice their concerns.
The cost of obtaining a conditional use permit is $150, but Terrill says he would recommend that the council set a special fee of $25 for permission to raise backyard chickens.
Terrill believes this is a matter for the Board of Adjustments because the process is already established, unlike the proposed inspections and fees under the newly drafted chicken ordinance.
“I don’t believe every law needs to be changed,” he says.
Doreen Parsley, a member of the Berea Chicken Brigade, is skeptical of the reasons for halting the chicken ordinance.
“Council members continually cite this strong opposition to the ordinance change,” Parsley explains, “but where are the people behind the concern?”
Terrill says citizens opposed to the ordinance change have directed four or five complaints to him through e-mails, phone calls, and personal contact.
“I’ve had people from the community stop me and tell me they didn’t support chickens,” he notes.
At the council’s meeting on July 20, not one citizen spoke in opposition, but nine supporters took the podium.
“It’s not the quality-of-life altering decision the city council makes it out to be,” says Parsley, who thinks communication between the two sides would end the long debate.
The Council won’t resolve the issue for at least another month, while the planning commission reviews the zoning amendment, says Terrill. If he can get the process expedited, further comment on backyard chickens would occur in September.
Terrill says the issue has been stalled for too long, but he’s not sure how it will end.
“I just hope everyone comes out happy,” says Terrill.
Illegal fowl in Berea will be hiding in their coops for at least another month, while the city decides how to handle chickens within town limits.
Council members voted on Tuesday to investigate conditional use permits, rather than change the existing codes, which prohibit backyard chickens by requiring a minimum of one acre of land (for up to 25 birds) and a 75-foot buffer between feathered friends and human neighbors.
Ronnie Terrill made the motion to table the proposed revision of City Ordinance 51.101 and instead amend zoning regulations to qualify chickens as a conditional use of residential property. Violet Farmer seconded the motion; none were opposed.
If the zoning changes are passed, homeowners would be required to apply for a permit with the variance board, which meets once a month. Terrill says the process involves an initial application, notification of neighbors, and a meeting for affected parties to voice their concerns.
The cost of obtaining a conditional use permit is $150, but Terrill says he would recommend that the council set a special fee of $25 for permission to raise backyard chickens.
Terrill believes this is a matter for the Board of Adjustments because the process is already established, unlike the proposed inspections and fees under the newly drafted chicken ordinance.
“I don’t believe every law needs to be changed,” he says.
Doreen Parsley, a member of the Berea Chicken Brigade, is skeptical of the reasons for halting the chicken ordinance.
“Council members continually cite this strong opposition to the ordinance change,” Parsley explains, “but where are the people behind the concern?”
Terrill says citizens opposed to the ordinance change have directed four or five complaints to him through e-mails, phone calls, and personal contact.
“I’ve had people from the community stop me and tell me they didn’t support chickens,” he notes.
At the council’s meeting on July 20, not one citizen spoke in opposition, but nine supporters took the podium.
“It’s not the quality-of-life altering decision the city council makes it out to be,” says Parsley, who thinks communication between the two sides would end the long debate.
The Council won’t resolve the issue for at least another month, while the planning commission reviews the zoning amendment, says Terrill. If he can get the process expedited, further comment on backyard chickens would occur in September.
Terrill says the issue has been stalled for too long, but he’s not sure how it will end.
“I just hope everyone comes out happy,” says Terrill.