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Home My WebLink About2013-03-20 PACKET 00 6:30 WORKSHOPREQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING IT DATE 3/20/13 : PREPARED BY: Community Development Jennifer Levitt ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR ***************:�****************�***********�**� COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Workshop: Poultry and Fowl in Urban Residential Neighborhoods G C_ •1111 _ ►�� •► Workshop: Poultry and Fowl in Urban Residential Neighborhoods BUDGET IMPLICATION: $ $ BUDGETED AMOUNT ACTUAL AMOUNT ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION ❑ PLANNING ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ HUMAN SERVICES/RIGHTS ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS �: REVIEWED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ � MEMO/LETTER: Memo from John McCool dated 3/13/13 ❑ RESOLUTION: � ORDINANCE: Sample ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: � OTHER: Surveys, emails, correspondence ADMINISTRATOR'S COMMENTS: 11�1�171�[el.Y�ll� APPROVED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ DENIED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ � f �� Date ************************************************ COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE � MINNESOTA TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator FROM: John McCool, Senior Planner DATE: March 13, 2013 RE: City Council Workshop - Poultry and Fowl in Urban Residential Neighborhoods A workshop has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Croix Conference Room at City Hall concerning the Council's policy decision on whether or not city ordinances should change to allow poultry and/or fowl in urban residential neighborhoods. Previous to the February 6 City Council meeting, Council asked for a recommendation from the Planning Commission concerning this topic. The Planning Commission and Public Safety, Health, and Welfare Commission have both recommended that the City ordinances not be amended and the current ordinance continues to require a minimum of five acres of land to keep any farm animal. At the February 6 City Council meeting, Council placed on file the recommendations and reports made by both Commissions, but acknowledged that these were not "formal" recommendations because a public hearing to amend the ordinances were not conducted. The Council also stated that the two families currently with chickens or ducks were allowed to keep their animals until Council decides if there should be a policy change concerning this matter. Based on Council's discussion, the owners of the chickens and ducks were given planning ap- plications to file an ordinance amendment to allow chickens or ducks on urban residential lots. The application fee for an ordinance amendment is $600. To date, no application has been received to amend city ordinances to allow poultry and/or fowl on urban residential lots nor has any additional information been submitted. Because no application has been received, a public hearing concerning an ordinance amendment has not been scheduled nor has any City Advi- sory Commission further discussed this matter. Phone messages were left for the Burtmans (owners of the ducks) to see if they were planning to file an ordinance text amendment or if they had additional information that they wanted distributed to the City Council. Brian Olson (owner of the chickens) thought they did not need to submit an ordinance text amendment application be- cause the City Council was continuing to discuss this matter. Mr. Olson did not know if they will have additional information to submit to the City at this time. As part of the workshop, staff is requesting direction on how to proceed with this issue. Based on ordinance requirements in other communities, an ordinance amendment was drafted and is enclosed. The regulatory requirements by other communities were inserted in this ordinance amendment example. None of the City's advisory commissions or city staff has reviewed this amendment example. Honorable Mayor, City Council, and Ryan Schroeder Workshop Discussion — Poultry and/or Fowl March 13, 2013 Page 2 of 3 Enclosed is a summary of the ordinance requirements by 52 other communities. This survey was prepared in November 2012. At that time, 67 percent of the communities surveyed did not allow chickens on small urban lots, but generally did allow them on large rural and agricultural lots. The other 33 percent of the communities surveyed did allow chickens on urban residential lots. Some cities had a minimum lot area requirement that is larger than a conventional single- family lot. Examples of the minimum lot area requirement are shown below: City Minimum Lot Area Andover 2.5 acres Brooklyn Park 5 acres Chanhassen 2.5 acres Cottage Grove 5 acres Elk River 5 acres Forest Lake 5 acres Inver Grove Heights 1.75 acres Lakeville 10 acres Lino Lakes 10 acres Maple Grove 1.5 acres Minnetonka 1.0 acre West St. Paul 5 acres Woodbury 5 acres Also enclosed is a copy of the emails received from property owners in favor and against ordin- ance regulations allowing poultry and fowl in the backyard of urban residential lots, public comments posted on the City's Facebook, and the results of an opinion survey that had 237 responses. This information was presented to the Planning Commission and Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission. Questions the City Council might want to consider for discussion are: • Which farm animals will be permitted on urban residential lots? • Are therr specific zoning districts to allow certain farm animals and what should the minimum lot area be? Is there an expectation that surrounding property owners/tenants must provide written permission to allow a property owner to keep certain farm animals in the back yard of an urban residential lot? If so, what should the minimum distance from the hosting property be for purposes of notifying surrounding property owners? Is there a minimum percen- tage of surrounding property owner/tenant supporters before a license can be issued? • What are the licensing requirements? How much should the licensing fee be? • What are the coop and/or pen requirements? Honorable Mayor, City Council, and Ryan Schroeder Workshop Discussion — Poultry and/or Fowl March 13, 2013 Page 3 of 3 • What is the maximum number of poultry and/or fowl that can be kept on an urban resi- dential lot? Is the maximum number of animals based on a graduated scale so that an owner of a one-acre parcel can have more animals than a property owner with only one- quarter of an acre parcel? • Can the property owner sell eggs from their urban residential lot? • Can the property owner butcher any farm animal on their urban residential lot? Does it matter if butchering is allowed inside a building but prohibited outside? • What should the maintenance of coops and/or pens be? • Should there be regulations on how feed and animal fecal waste is stored? Will animal feces be permitted to be applied as a fertilizer on the lawn or gardens? • Are roosters allowed? • What are the minimum setback requirements for coops and pens from property boundary lines? What should be the minimum setback between coops/pens and adjacent residen- tial dwellings? ORDINANCE NO. XXX The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington hereby ordain as follows: AN ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE, MINNESOTA, AMENDING TITLE 5, ANIMAL CONTROL AND TITLE 11, REQUIREMENTS, OF THE COTTAGE GROVE CITY CODES RELATING TO KEEPING CHICKENS AND/OR DUCKS IN ANY ZONING DISTRICT , Minnesota, does SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. "The Code of the City < Washington, State of Minnesota," shall be amended by amend adding the following: 10-4-1: DEFINITIONS: ordinance. hunted as aame. HEN: Female fowl or poultrv. or eaas:; Wa am� ON 2 in ��e, County of ; Definitions, by ENT. "The Code of the City of Cottage Grove, County of �ta," shall be amended by amending Title 5-4-1; Definitions, by WILD ANIMAL,�`"'�.�`-�°° Any animal that is wild, ferocious, or vicious by nature, habit, �� , - d� �� disposition, o�� r. Animals in this category include, but are not limited to, the following: any ape (includin`�g chimpanzee, gibbon, gorilla, orangutan, or siamang), baboon, bear, bison, bobcat, cheetah, crocodile, coyote, deer (including all members of the deer family such as elk, antelope, and moose), elephant, fox, � ��u ° r m rr � h � r � ��„�� "�� -P-k��asa�s�k��es°, ry� �^��, a+�s ry � e} , hippopotamus, hyena, jaguar, leopard, lynx, monkey, puma (also known as cougar, mountain lion, or panther), pot bellied pigs, rhinoceros, any snake which is poisonous or any constrictor snake, snow leopard, tiger, wolf, or hybrid mix of any of the wild animals such as wolf/dog mixes. � Ordinance No. XXX Page 2 of 6 SECTION 3. AMENDMENT. "The Code of the City of Cottage Grove, County of Washington, State of Minnesota," shall be amended by adding Title 5-4-13; Keeping of Fowl or Poultry: 5-4-13: Keepina of Fowl or Poultrv: Anv aerson keepina fowl or poultrv in anv zonina district on less than five acres of land within the Citv of Cottaae Grove shall complv with the followina: brouaht into the Citv for the puraose of particiaatina in anv circus, show, aarade. or s ecial event: nor does it aaalv to anv aublic zoo. or persons keeaina animals for a public zoo as volunteers, docents or otherwise: nor to anv bonafide research institution, public or arivate schools, or veterinarv hospital, provided protective devices adeauate to prevent such animal from escaaina or iniurina the ublic are arovided. B. Permit Aaplication: Ordinance No. XXX Page 3 of 6 Anv aerson desirina a license reauired under the provision of this article shall make written aaalication to the Citv Clerk upon a form prescribed bv and containina such information as reauired bv the Citv Clerk. Amona other thinas, the application shall contain the followina information: C. Where an adiacent proaertv consists of a multiale dwellina or multi-tenant propertv. the applicant need to obtain onlv the written consent of the owner or manaaer. or other aerson in charae of the buildina. Such written consent shall be re uired on the initial application and as often thereafter as the citv deems necessarv. publiclv owned real estate that are located adiacent (i.e., sharina propertv linesl on the outer boundaries of the aremises for which the aermit is beina reauested. Ordinance No. XXX Page 4 of 6 3) Each person holdina a permit to keea fowl or aoultrv within the Citv of Cottaae Grove shall comalv with the followina: 4) Onlv one annual license for keeaina fowl or poultrv will be aranted aer household. The coop's floor must be a minimum of 24 inches above the around. (g) The floor area of the roofed cooa or a combination of the floor area and attached aen must be eaual to at least ten sauare feet of area aer fowl or op ultrv. el Fowl or poultrv must be keat in the cooa, run or a detached mobile pen whenever thev are unattended bv the keeaer. Ordinance No. XXX Page 5 of 6 h) The cooa must have a minimum of one sauare foot window aer ten sauare feet floor saace. Windows must be able to oaen for ventilation. il Climate control — Adeauate ventilation and/or insulation to maintain the coo temaerature between 32-85 dearees Fahrenheit. 61 The outdoor run must maintain a minimum of 100 foot seaaration from all dwellinas on adiacent aroperties. 7) The coop's attached aen must be well drained so there is no accumulation of moisture or become an erosion issue. Keea tne rowi or aouitrv separatea trom otner anima�s. � Ordinance No. XXX Page 6 of 6 (8) If the around surface within the outdoor run area becomes barren soil and without a arass coverina the area, then mulch materials must be alaced on the exaosed around surFace. (14) Fowl and/or aoultrv shall not be keat in such a manner as to constitute a nuisance to occupants of adiacent aropertv. 15) Eaas, chicks. adult fowl or aoultrv shall not be sold. SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance shall be in full�°�c�r e and��fect from and after its passage and publication according to law.��, "p�� ,�� Passed this day of Myron Bailey, Mayor Attest: Caron M. Stransky, City Cle . � � City of Cottaqe Grove's Facebook Comments December 7-11, 2012 o Dave LeVake, Terri Tufte, Kim Smrstick Beaton and 9 others like this. � - --: � � I Kali Taylor Amanda Kowalski December 7 at 1:48pm via mobile �; �-- - - �: --„� __�: Thomas Carison Here is an article about chickens in the city. http://www.chickenrunrescue.org/collective%20state%20111809.pdf December 7 at 1:51pm r. Kevin Johnson I say.... If you wanna be a farmer buy a farm December 7 at 2:34pm via mobile . �]eff Rothecker City of St. Paul allows it and most of their lots are smaller than the ones here in Cottage Grove. December 7 at 2:49pm �. Kevin ]ohnson Well there you go.... Go live in st Paul....lol December 7 at 3:12pm via mobile Elspeth Atkinson GREAT article link above! December 7 at 3:17pm ��; , � . � Kelli Jankovich- McDaniel Chickens Not roosters make a lot less noise and mess than most � ) dogs do! A few birds would do no harm. December 7 at 7:36pm ,, _� Becky Fox I grew up on a farm raising chickens, ducks and geese-I left for a reason and sure hope my neighbors don't get to raise them in their backyard which is really close to mine! Believe it or not, you really wouldn't need to drive far to buy them from a local farmer and they are more work than most people realize. December 7 at 8:28pm via mobile Jean Jacobs Glaraton Glad to have the opportunity to voice my opinion through the survey. December 7 at 9:28pm � ��_ �.� i :.. �� ` Jill Eriksen Sheppard if anyone is concerned about the inhumane treatment of chickens then they really need to consider where the grocery store chickens come fromhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enwUSjIXSIU Saturday at 4:48am �, :�- _- I --��-_� Thomas Carlson Last summer we had a chicken fly into our yard in Cottage Grove. Its legs were bound together tightly with string so it was unabie to walk correctly. My daughter caught the chicken and removed the string and found a place in Minneapolis that would take the chicken and find it a home. It took a month or two before the chicken was big enough to determine that it was a rooster and not a hen. Saturday at 7:02am Dennis Breisler I want a goat. Saturday at 8:29am 1 { �'' Lewis Stein No!! Saturday at 10:32am via mobile _t�-_, � a��; r ','-�` I �` a Gene LeVake I don't think you want to open "THIS CAN OF WORMS"!!!!! Saturday at 12:20pm �EJ Will Hohenstein Green acres is the place for me. Farm livin' is the life for me. Land spreadin' out so far and wide Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside. Saturday at 3:58pm ti , ,� : Angel Popowitz really?? i hope this survey on Facebook is not your deciding factor for this problem that has been sitting on the city council for more than 4 MONTHS!!! are you sending this survey out with our water bill so it can be seen by EVERY person who lives in cottage grove??? Saturday at 5:20pm �� Susan Farr Make sure to charge a license fee for each person who wants to do this who lives in urban CG because you will need to accumulate enougth income to offset the cost of constant calls to the police for animal noise disturbance caused by roosters. Sunday at 12:06pm a� ,�. ��- ]en Peterson Roosters would not be allowed. Sunday at 8:58pm via mobile ,: � � � �. � Natalie Seim Oltman Jr. High had baby ducks that they hatched in science. Daughter brought one home. We raised them (2) from babies, and it imprinted with us. It walked around the yard with me when I watered the garden. It turned it's heads when the jets fiew over. They were fun. We made a cage for them, had a small round pool for water, and like others we knew that had them from Otiman, they get too big to keep in our yard. They poop a lot, and thafi needs to be taken care of. You need to keep them safe because we do have fox around here (so they needed a cage at night). It was a lot of work. I know some people released the ducks to the ponds, we took ours to a friend's hobby farm. I think if they have a proper place for chickens and they weren't noisy I would agree. Ducks, more work! Other cities have these. Would have to address their waste/poop disposal. As long as the parties surrounding the home agree with a signature, I would agree. ( I think that is what some cities do). Sunday at 11:11pm City of Cottaqe Grove Facebook — Sharinq Paqes Decem ber 7-11, 2012 Jen LeVake Heriot I would love to have chickens in MY back yard. With the right rules and regulations (no roosters) it can be a great thing!! Many cities are now considering this; just passed in Stillwater. Hoping Hudson will do the same some day. Now having cows, goats or other "farm animals" is a whole other story - ha! I'll have to pass this on to my family living in CG. Saturday at 2:35am via mobile Nicole Tennis I do have farm animals in my neighbors backyard. Don't remind Jesse of the wild boar. Too soon! Saturday at 7:57am ��a mobile Jill Eriksen SheppardJennifer Schottmuller Bierma Here's the survey link. :) December 7 at 9:47pm Jill Eriksen Sheppard via Amelia La Casse Please give your input to the City of Cottage Grove in favor of allowing backyard chickens!!! December 7 at 5:09pm Elspeth Atkinson Amy...good to know!! This is all new to me. I love the idea of fresh healthy eggs. I am just too wary sometimes and assume the worst of what some people would do. December 7 at 9:58pm Jill Eriksen Sheppard I think the chicken industry as a whole are the worst offenders of treating chickens inhumanely and those that want to raise a few in their backyards are in a different category http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enwU5j IXSIU Food, Inc. - Industrial Chicken Farmers Clip from Food, Inc. in which small southern farmers are beholden to large corpo... See More Saturday at 6:51am Anita Morrill I posted the survey link to our local Urban Chicken Farmers group, too. The questions on the survey continue to bother me, though, in terms of private property rights. You shouldn't really have to ask "permission" of any level of government to do as you see fit on your own property..... Saturday at 9:21am Anita Morrill As an example, Des Moines code: http://library.municode.com/HTML/13242/level3/MUCO_CH18AN_ARTIINGE.html#MUCO_CH 18AN_ARTIINGE_S 18-4AG NOAN EXAN Sec. 18-4. - Agricultural nondomestic animals and exotic animals.(a)No horse, cow, calf, swine, shee library.municode.com No person, while herding or driving any animals mentioned in section 18-4 of thi... See More Saturday at 9:30am Francisco Gonzalez via City of Cottage Grove, MN - City Government mmm...can I keep an nandu too? See Translation December 7 at 3:34pm Keeping Chickens in the Back Yard Ordinance <;, �� ;;��'VF:I�M�J�t�k�'l,J, 1. Are you a Cottage Grove homeowner in an urban residential neighborhood? Response Response Percent C ount _ _ _ _ _ ___ YES 86.1 % 204 , _._...__ ___ --- ._...__ _ - - __ _ --- -...-......._ _ -- - _ _ _ _ _ NO 0 13.9% 33 answered question 237 skipped question 0 _. _ _ _ - _. 2. Should people living in an apartment or townhouse complex be allowed to keep poultry or fowl penned-up outside? - _. . _. _ _ . ._ __ _ . _ ___. _ _ . __ . _ . __ . ._ _ _ _ . ___ _ __ _ . _ . _ __ . _ . . _ _ __ ... - - - -- . Response Response Percent Count _ _ ____- --___ __..... __..- __. _ _...._ _ _ __ _ _----- . .- __ . __ _.. _. YES 0 13.5% 32 NO - - 86.5% 205 answered question 237 _ _ skipped question 0 - - ---- _ _. _ __ _..._ _._ . _-- __ _ _ _ __ _ -- - - __ _ - -- 3. Do you object to your neighbor keeping chickens in their back yard? Response Response Percent Count YES 52.3% 124 NO 47.7% 113 answered question 237 _ _ __. _ _ _ _ . .. _ _ _ _ _ .. . skipped question 0 1 of 5 4. Do you object to your neighbor keeping fowl (e.g. wild ducks, geese, turkeys, etc.) in their back yard? Response Response Percent Count _ _ _ _ ___ __ . _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _. __ YES — 62.7% 148 NO 37.3% 88 answered question 236 skipped question 1 5. Would you object to your neighbor keeping a rooster(s) in their back yard? _ _ _ _ _ _. _ ___ __ _ _ _ . _. _ Response Response Percent Count _ _ _ ____ _ __._ _ YES 72.5% 171 _ _ _ _ _ _ _. __ _ _ __ __ ... _ _ __ ___ --___ _ . -- _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _. __ - _ . _ _ _ . _ . _... NO a..,.,_.,�.. 27.5% 65 _ _ _ _ _..__._ - -- __ __. _. . _ _.. _ ___ __ _ _ ..... . . __. _ answered question 236 skipped question 1 _ _ __. _ _ _. _ _ 6. Should the owner of poultry and/or fowl be allowed to butcher the animal on an urban residential lot? - - _ - - _ _ _. Response Response Percent Count - - _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _. YES 38.6% 90 NO 61.4% 143 answered question 233 skipped question 4 2 of 5 7. Should the owner of poultry and/or fowl be required to provide coops and fences for the poultry and/or fowl in their back yard? Response Response Percent Count _ _ _ _ _ __ ._ __ _ _ _ __.__ _- - ___ - -_ _ ___ YES 88.5% 207 NO � 11.5% 27 answered question 234 skipped question 3 8. Should the owner of poultry and/or fowl be allowed to sell eggs from their urban residential lot? Response Response Percent Count _ __ _ _...._ ._. .. . __ __ __..___.._. _.__ _._ . _ __..—._ .. .____... _ __. _.__ _ YES - 47.0% 111 _ _ _.. _ _ . ... __ _. _ . _ - - -- _ _ - _ - _ _ -- __ _ __ _ _ - - -- --- - NO 53.0% 125 answered question 236 skipped question 1 9. Should keeping poultry and/or fowl in the back yard of an urban residential lot require a minimum lot area? Response Response Percent Count _ ___ _ _ _. . _ ._ __ __ _...._... YES - 74.6% 176 NO 25.4% 60 answered question 236 skipped question 1 3 of 5 10. If you answered YES to question No. 9, what should the minimum lot area be? Response Response Percent Count _ _. _ __ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ 6,000 square foot lot area 0 11.4% 21 12,000 square foot lot area 0 13.0°/o 24 One-half acre (21,780 square feet) 0 10.3% 19 One acre (43,560 square feet) 0 13.0% 24 Two acres (87,120 square feet) � 15.8% 29 _ _ _ _._ ___. __. __ _ _ __ ___ _.._ _- -- --__ _ _ _ __. _.__ _ _ __. Five acres (217,800 square feet) 36.4% 67 _ _ __ _ --_ _ __..__.__ . ___- - - - _ . _ _ _ _ answered question 184 skipped question 53 _ _ _ _. — 11. Would you support an ordinance amendment that allows residents on an urban residential lot to keep other small farm animals (e.g. pigmy goats, pot-bellied pigs, honeybees, pigeons and other wild game) in their back yard? Response Response Percent Count _ - _ _ _ --.. _ - - -- . . . . YES 29.6% 69 NO 70.4°/a 164 answered question 233 skipped question 4 4of5 12. Assuming the photograph of a coop and pen as shown above complies with all ordinance regulations; would you accept its placement on the urban residential lot next to your property? Response Response Percent Count _ _ __ - - _ __ _ YES 41.4% 98 NO 58.6% 139 answered question 237 _ _. . skipped question 0 13. Do you have additional comments you would like to say regarding a homeowner keeping poultry and/or fowl in the back yard of their urban residential lot in Cottage Grove? _ _ _ _ __ . . ._ _ _ _. _ __ _ _ _ _ _ ._ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ - _ Response Count 100 answered question 100 skipped question 137 5of5 � Survey Monkey Comments z December 7-12, 2012 4 Poultry stinks. s keep anything 6 the cityll Unless you are a poultry farmer, you should absolutley NOT be able to like that on your property. Who the hell wants to wake up to roosters in 7 12/12/2012 10:32 AMview Responses 9 If this is allowed all neighbors should have the right to say no. The property should 10 have had zero justified City complaints (tall grass, trash cans...) in the past 3 years. The 11 property owner should be required to have a 6 foot privacy fence installed to the 12 standard of a professional installer. 13 1�/11 /�012 4:49 PMview Responses 14 Zs I think that is good, as long as the coop is clean. 16 12/11 /2012 12:01 AMview Responses 17 Zs a neighbor of mine had some wild one and then move on to rabbits and stinks and then 19 where do they put the droppings? If you open this it will be a disaster. 20 12/11 /2012 11:44 AMview Responses 21 22 If I wanted farm life, I would move to the country. I want my neighborhood to be clean. I 23 don't want a stinky set-up next door. I don't want to noise pollution from poultry or other 24 fowl. And I don't want chicken.feathers in my yard. It might be fun for someone for the 2s first month or so, and then it would become work. Would there be setback regulations, 26 and other regulations, that would be STRICTLY enforced? Would there be a limit on 27 how many poultry are allowed? Will structures be taken down if not in use or will they zs be allowed to sit there and rot? If and when they are taken down, will it be strictly 29 enforced to get decent grass growing there or will the owner be allowed to let the 3o weeds take over? Would the fowl be allowed out of their cages? Would this type of 31 thing bring more birds of prey to the area and make it dangerous for small pets to be 32 outside? My husband and I worked long and hard to get what we've got as have lots of 33 other people. I believe it would bring down the property values. We had a former 34 neighbor here in Cottage Grove who, shortly after we moved into our house, tried 35 raising pheasants in his backyard behind, and in, his shed. It was out of his sight, but in 36 plain view of us. The cage was two feet from the property line. The smell was 3� sickening. After failure, everything just sat there for twenty years. It turned into a junk 3s pile. There was erosion on the site and the hillside. No grass has ever grown there and 39 over the years the dirt area has expanded along with some weeds that I have a hard 4o time keeping out of my yard. I know you would have the ordinances in place, but if the 41 fowl owner is in violation, then it most likely would have to be a neighbor who calls and 42 reports them. If the neighbor asks the fowl owner to take care of something, the fowl 43 owner would most likely get defensive (from my own experience), or worse. Why allow 44 something more to create conflict in neighborhoods? If I were looking to buy a home in 45 CG, I would not buy next to a chicken coop property. And if one of my neighbors Page 1 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 �1 72 73 74 75 76 �� $ 79 so 81 82 83 84 85 86 s� ss 89 90 91 decides to go the chicken route, I will regret the day that we decided to buy a home here. 12/11/�01� 1:17 AMview Responses Keep them like a dog in a kennel, this really puts a green stamp on your home. 12/10/2012 7:15 PMview Responses I have kept chickens and my neighbors never knew about it. 12/10/2012 6:45 PMview Responses DO NOT WANT IT AT ALL. 12/10/2012 4:39 PMview Responses There needs to be a maximum allowable ratio of animals to acreage. A five acre lot can't support a hundred chickens for example. 12/10/2012 2:08 PMview Responses I would be more concerned that it would be smelly and people would not maintain things as they should. If I wanted to live by a farm I would have purchased near one. It would be hard to regulate. 12/10/2012 12:4� AMview Responses I would be up at every City Council meeting C O M P L A I N I N G! 12/10/2012 11:56 AMview Responses My parents used to purchase a dozen or so live farm raised chickens from a country farmer, and bring them to our residential home and chop their heads off in our back yard, and boil them and pluck their feathers downsstairs in our home. No thought was ever given to the the legality of it back in the 1950s. We had easter chickens that my siblings and I got for easter when we were small children, and we intended to raise them in a residential back yard pen made out of screens on old wood window frames nailed together or hinged, and the neighbors around us never complained, but a dog broke through the screening and had a pleasant meal out of our easter chic{cs that we had planned to raise and eat ourselves after they were grown. I hate to deny someone else that we did ourselves in a time that doesn't seem so long ago. 12/10/2012 11:37 AMview Responses Farm animals belong on a farm. 12/10/2012 11:35 AMview Responses Just looking at that photo doesn't say much, how close is it to the houses surrounding, what's the smell like, noise? Not muc to decide on from that photo! I wouldn't want that anywhere I could see, hear or smell it! 12/10/2012 9:51 AMview Responses Provides organic eggs! Page 2 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 Zos 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 12s 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 12/10/2012 9:31 AMview Responses If you pass the ability to keep poultry then I'm getting a miniature pony. 12/10/2012 9:07 AMview Responses I would not want this messy, smelly, animal attracting nuisance near by home. I would be upset and emberassed to live in a town that allowed this. I BEG of you to NOT ALLOW THIS!!!!!!!! 12/10/2012 8:34 AMview Responses The picture example is not the style I would find acceptable in town. There are plenty I would. This looks like it is for more birds than I would feel should be accepted. 12/10/2012 6:3�� AMview Responses Charge a license fee for each person that does this. Also, when I owned a dog in the past, my neighbors called the police at barking constantly, could neighbors call the police on rooster noise as well, how would that work? Some questions to consider here as each noise disturbance call to the police costs the taxpayer money.... 12/9/2012 2:00 I�Mview Responses the only concern is sicknesses that have been associated with chicken coops including respiratory illness emitted from dried poultry/ fowl feces. If the city should allow expanding the ownership of poulty/fowl, they have a responsibility to ensure that all people applying for a permit are educated on the handling and care of poultry/fowl. There should also be high fines if one is caught not adhering to the guidelines. 12/9/2012 12:15 AMview Responses Gross 12/8/2012 10:46 PMview Responses i would support it as long as there were rules requiring the pen and area around the coupe were kept clean. that also would require that the POO is disposed of properly 12/8/2012 8:02 PMview Responses I would be OK with "a few" animals. my neighbors lots (including mine) are roughly 1/2 acre lots. If he wants a goat and 2 chickens or something I wouldn't be ecstatic about it but he pays his taxes and he has to put up with my monster drum set. 12/8/2012 5:56 PMview Responses My property my rights as long as I comply with reasonable common since standards 12/S/2012 �:55 PMview Responses How on earth do honeybees get lumped in with goats, pigeons, pot bellied pigs and other wild game? I would be all for neighbors keeping honeybees, they help our gardens and flowers! No thanks on the neighbors having pigs or goats. 12/S/2012 3:27 PMview Responses Page 3 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 Z�s 179 180 Zs1 Zs2 183 I am certain that most chicken owners would have much more attractive chicken coops than the one shown in the picture, but I think that the novelty of having neighborhood chickens outweigh the potential dislike of the pen. 12/8/2012 3:26 PMview Responses If raising farm animals is important to them they should move out to a farm. Poultry and farm animals should not be allowed in the city because of the closer housin situation. 12/8/2012 2:28 PMview Responses I don't think you want to open "THIS CAN OF WORMS"!!!! 12/8/2012 2:12 PMview Responses Restrict to no less than a 5 acre lot. 12/8/2012 1:45 PMview Responses Move to the "country" 12/8/2012 1:06 F'Mview Responses I think you open a can of worms when you allow poultry on a common city lot. 12/8/2012 12:54� AMview Responses Our lots our way to small to have this be allowed. Who would be monitoring that they keep them code? Is that something else we will have to pay for? 12/8/2012 11:54 AMview Responses This is a great concept! Both green and cutting edge and good for children to witness. As a 60 year CG resident I heartily support this. 12/8/2012 11:23 AMview Responses There should be limits based on square footage to make sure the animals have adequate space and are comfortable. 12/S/2012 10:57 AMview Responses If you want farm animals, move to a farm. I live in a city for a reason. 12/�/2012 9:19 AMView Responses I think they should have a limit on how many chickens they can have --maybe only 6. Also, I would like to say the example you posted for a coop and pen area is a very drastic and poor example. I have seen some that look like little dwarF cottages and penned in very nice. It actually enhanced the yard area. 12/8/2012 8:32 AMview Responses I love my neighborhood and do not want to see that mess of chicken wire anywhere in it! Not too mention the noise and the oder. People have a hard time picking up after their dog, I can't imagine them cleaning up after their poultry. Do people realize that Page 4 183 184 185 186 Zs� Zss 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 2os 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 they poop all day anywhere they want? Yuc�c! Support a local farmer a couple of miles away and buy his farm fresh eggs and chickens. 12/8/2012 8:23 AMview Responses There should be restrictions of course as to the distance a coop has to be to a neighbors property. It should have to be several feet from any property line- 12/8/2012 7:39 AMview Responses There should be something in here that says if my dog (or cat) kills one of these things because the fowl got loose it isnt the dog owners fault. Also should state that if my dog or cat freaks out and barks meows at the fowl the fowl has to go, not the dog or cat 12/8/2012 7:29 AMview Responses The picture above doesn't seem very representative of a normal coop/pen from what I've seen. I'd support a more standard looking coop but not this "double-dome" cage. I don't believe hens fly so there would be no need for this type of structure. They can be designed much better and are not much different than an outdoor dog house/kennel. 12/8/2012 �:15 AMview Responses urban areas are not farms!!!!!!!!! 12/8/2012 5:42 AMview Responses There is a distinct difference between urban and rural. These animals belong on a farm. 12/7/2012 11:25 PMview Responses They would have to be kept clean and with no odor. 12/7/2012 11:06 PMview Responses If someone wants to keep farm animals, they should buy a farm. 12/7/2012 11:01 PMview Responses I think the existing ordinance is fine. Minimum of 5 acres to have that type of "domesticated" wildlife is fine. I would not want any neighbor of mine with an urban lot to put up a coop or pen on anything less than 5 acres. 1 �/7/�01 � 10:43 PMview Responses I think if you would like to have these types of animals you should live ine the country, where they don't bother anyone else. I know I would not like to hear them or smell them everyday. Barking dogs are enough to deal with, I can't imagine rooster crowing in my back yard too. 12/7/2012 10:35 PMview Responses Free range Chickens in someone's back yard that is fenced in seems perFectly reasonable to me. Louder animals such as roosters, ducks and geese could be very disruptive to neighbors. 12/7/2012 10:02 PMview Responses Page 5 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 2�0 271 272 273 Animals need space. Shouldn't have to be cooped up in a small area. 12/7/2012 9:46 PMview Responses I think that it's ok if it is a farmer that farms land and has at least 5 acres or more! 12/7/2012 9:33 PMview Responses I picked 6000sqft as the minimum area to keep chickens. I'm thinking no more than two per every 6000sqft. 12/7/2012 9:30 PMview Responses I hope this goes through, fihoughts of moving more rural to have chickens have crossed our minds 12/7/2012 9:24 PMview Responses This is rediculous, should you have farm animals in a residential area... Absolutely Not!! 12/7/2012 9:22 PMview Responses Chicks, ducks and other fowl make much less noise and mess than dogs! 12/7/2012 9:22 PMView Responses If you want a farm , live on a farm!! Not a city street home!!t!!!! I do not want farm animals right outside my damn kitchen window!!! Ugh !!!!!!!!!! 12/7/2012 9:06 PMview Responses The noise, waste products, and disease potential is not acceptable. If someone wants to keep what I consider to be farm animals, they should simply buy a farm. 12/7/2012 9:04 PMview Responses I live right next door to the person trying to keep his 4 ducks. They are right under, my kitchen window and I smell gross poop every time I open the window. They are so loud that I can hear them throughout my whole house all the time! Especially when we are outside anywhere. Because of the placement of this persons property to mine, his backyard in directly the side of my house where our deck and windows are. I am also concerned about the ecoli issues that go with having ducks as my children have respiratory issues and 95% of ducks carry ecoli in their feces and it is injested by dust particles being blown in the wind. PLEASE LEAVE THE FARM ANIMALS ON THE FARM! 12/7/2012 8:53 PMview Responses These are dirty noisy farm animals that belong on a farm. Not in a backyard of a city lot. They would bring a whole new set of issues that our city staff. especially police officers would have to deal with. 12/7/2012 8:51 PMview Responses Page 6 z�4 Go by land out in the country if you want farm animals. They are loud, smell and is 2�s going to cause lots of other issues down the road! 276 12/7/�01 � 8:41 PMview Responses 277 2�s 279 2so 281 282 283 284 285 286 2g7 2ss 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 Allowing our citizens the opportunity to raise a sustainable resource is a step in the right direction for Cottage Grove. I've seen many lovely, aesthetically pleasing chicken pens and coops. The photo choice seems as if it was selected to sway people's opinion in a less than favorable direction. 1 �/7/2012 8:14 PMview Responses This will totally hurt resale of properties, I would conceder selling if this happens. 12/7/2012 8:09 PMView Responses Would there be an ordinance on how many animals can be present on specific land areas? Will there be some kind of recommendation on pen sizes? Roosters cacadoodldoo'ing each morning? I would live more in the country if I would want that. I'd really prefer this ordinance to not be passed. What is the proper disposal of carcass' if they are allowed to kill the birds onsite? I'd assume that some people would still defy the ordinance and kill their animals on their property which to me could be disease spreading. Thank you. 12/�/2012 8:05 PMview Responses This is not acceptable. Please read the article attached to your fb post regarding this. This is not for a city lot. This is not ok. 12/7/2012 7:48 PMview Responses I do not want any of this next to me. But, if you do allow it a limit on the number animals has to be set. Like 4. Roosters should not be allowed. Drive a chicken or turkey farm and smell it. We don't need that in a neighborhood. If you want to farm, buy a farm. 12/7/2012 7:39 PMview Responses Sounds like a good idea. 12/7/2012 6:56 PMview Responses I really don't want farm animals around my home. It would be most frustrating for the people who do not follow the rules and my guess is CG does not have the proper staff for funding to enforce any ordinace allowing such things. Please don't allow chickens nor other farm animals around here. 12/7/2012 6:29 PMview Responses I <heart> free range birds 12/7/2012 5:41 PMview Responses PETA=People Eating Tasty Animals 12/7/2012 5:38 PMview Responses Page 7 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 While there are many who who do it in compliance with the law, I have a huge concern about those who will not. Can the City afford the cost/manpower to policing it? What about fowl that get loose? Can animal shelters handle found birds? I think that during these times of tightening government budgets, Cottage Grove cannot afford to take on this additional cost. 12/7/2�12 5:26 PMviewResponses I think any homeowner in Cottage Grove should be allowed to keep chickens in the backyard. I don't think the noise is an issue as I am sure my two small children are noisier than the chickens would be. Also, I have had many occasions where my neighbors have noisy dogs. I also have had neighbor cats do their business in my yard. I think raising chickens is a great way to be "green" and support raising your own food and also bed educational for my children. I think of Cottage Grove as more rural than suburban and I know that St Paul and Minneapolis allow for chickens in residential lots so I am surprised that Cottage Grove has not allowed them up to now. 1 �/7/2012 5:08 PMview Responses If I wanted to be near these animals I would live on a farm. This is the City. Not acceptable. 12/7/2012 5:06 PMview Responses Buy a Farm, I dont want to smell or hear these animals all day and night 12/7/2012 4:56 PMview Responses This is ridiculus that you are even thinking about this. 12/�/2012 �:48 PMview Responses The thought of a couple chickens next door doesn't bother me. But looking at the coop and pen makes me feel property values would be affected. It looks trash to me. Not sure how to come to terms w/ the paradox of it. 12/7/20� 2 4:�6 PMview Responses What's behind done to prevent the spread of disease bringing poultry into the city? 12/7/2012 4:46 PMview Responses My aunt and uncle in laws have chickens, they are noisy, you have fio have lights on inside if the coop(typically ran by extension cords) which would be against state fire code. This would be a horrible idea! 12/7/2012 4:39 PMview Responses There needs to be a minimum lot size so the noise and smell from livestock doesn't infringe on their neighbors. There's also the issue of lower saleability of a home next to someone with livestock. 12/7/2012 4:27 PMview Responses Page 8 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 Allowing chickens or geese would not hurt anyone. Everyone is so concerned about what is going on in someone else's yard, worry about your own yard. Dogs can be noisier and more of a problem and actually hurt people vs a few chickens or geese. Please allow them, what a great educational option for parents/kids as well. Teaching our youth to grow some of their own food is a wonderful idea! 12/7/2012 4:18 PMview Responses 3�2 Dogs bar{<ing at all hours of the night can be much worse than a few chickens. Maybe 373 don't allow roosters as they can be more noisy than chickens. People want to grow 374 their own food, let them...it is their own backyard after all, not their neighbors or the 375 CIt12S I I I 376 12/7/2012 4:12 PMview Responses 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 People should be able to pufi whatever they want in their bac{cyard, so long as it is not a real danger to anyone 12/7/2012 4�:10 PMview Responses A citizen should be allowed to keep these animals in their yard as long as they don't harm their neighbors. 12/7/2012 3:56 PMview Responses This is not acceptable unless you have the space. I am ok with the ducks that live in a pond on a residents but noisy dirty chickens no thank you! If I wanted to live near farm animals I would have purchased a hobby farm. 1 Z/7/2012 3:5Z PMview Responses Keeping urban animals is a detriment to the animals along with the neighbors and citizens. Countless numbers of chickens and ducks are abandoned every year. We do not need to add to that number in Cottage Grove. 12/7/2012 3:51 PMview Responses If you allow chickens please lower my property taxes when my neighbor builds a chic{<en coop. Absolutely "no". Enforce the rules as they are written now. 12/7/2012 3:48 PMview Responses They belong on a farm. 12/7/2012 3:46 PMview Responses In regards to coops and fences I feel petiole just need to have at the least a fenced in yard. The chickens should bee allowed to have a grassy area to run around in to bee able to eat grass and bugs. Thank you for considering this. 12/7/2012 3:43 PMview Responses If you pass it please limit the number of animals/chickens. I thnk it is sure to initate more police calls by cranky neighbors if allowed on smaller properties. 1 �/7/201 � 3:42 PMview Responses Page 9 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 I think they should only be allowed if you have the space (5 or more acres) to support them, just as things are now. I did not purchase a lot in a residential neighborhood to smell and look at farm animals every day! 12/7/2012 3:23 PMview Responses Animals, when not in the coops, must have the owner right next to them in order to ensure they do not find a way into others yards or injure other community members. 12/7/2012 3:21 I�Mview Responses I do not want to hear or smell my neighbors farm animals! If I wanted to live next to a farm I would move there. I will be moving if this passes and my neighbors implement it. Filthy horrid idea that will only deteriorate my property value 12/7/�0� 2 3:18 PMview Responses Allowing neighbor to keep poultry and farm animals could result in noise that would be disturbng, injurious to sleep patterns and would interfere in my right to enjoy my own property. 1 �/7/�01 � 3:18 PMview Responses ABSOLUTELY NOT TO THIS AMMENDMENT. I grew up on a FARM in the COUNTRY. That is where this I<ind of thing belongs. UNACCEPTABLE. PERIOD. Want to see property values decrease even more? This would be the way. I want to build the image of CG, not allow this to happen. 12/7/2012 3:17 PMview Responses If it a farm that's cool if it's a residence I dont think so....do what Woodbury does...case closed....... 12/7/2012 3:14 PMview Responses A limit should be put on the number or "for personal / family consumtion only" should be apart of the ordinence. 12/7/2012 3:10 I�Mview Responses I think it is a good idea 12/7/2012 3:Od PMview Responses There is no way I think chickens/ducks should be allowed in a traditional neighborhood. The coops are very unattractive, chickens/ducks smell horrible, and they are loud. They be�ong on a farm, not in a neighborhood! 12/7/2012 3:07 PMview Responses The amount of excessive noise should be included in the ordinance, the same type of policy for a dog. 12/7/2012 3:07 PMview Responses Page 10 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 Raising out own food without hormones makes all the sense in the worid... nothing better that fresh eggs Not to mention the keep the eat their weight in bugs 1 �/7/�012 3:03 PMview Responses I am ALL FOR poultry being allowed in a residential backyard but I think the number of adult poultry/fowl or small farm animals should be limited if the animals are in a residential lot. 12/7/20 � 2 3:00 P Mview Responses If I wanted animals in my yard (or next to me), I would move out to the country - or at least more land area. If my neighbor has chickens - what happens if MY dog eats one or more? I do not want that responsibility. I also do not want the noise of the animals. I grew up on a farm - animals make noise and smells. 1 �/7/�012 �:59 PMview Responses Chickens and duc{cs are no worse than annoying constantly barking dogs that are never dealt with by the city or wandering cats. 12/7/2012 2:53 PMview Responses Page 11 Poultry and Fowl Opinion Survey Cottage Grove, MN The definition for "farm animal" in Cottage Grove's City Code includes chickens and ducks. City ordinances allow farm animals in any zoning district, but a minim�of five acres of land is required. ��°� The City has been asked to consider allowing poultry a r '�e back yard of urban residential lots. An urban residential lot is�� I�a 0-100 feet wide lot with a lot area of 7,500-11,000 sq. ft. (0.17 — 0. ��iiaL�re). G � I�� . The City of Cottage Grove t��r your opinio on ing poultry and fowl in harkvarrle w`1 � w � A ��...,�.�... GV � �. • - - 4 YES NO e you a Cotta meowner in an urban residential 14 0 neighborhood 2. Should people living in an apartment or townhouse complex be 0 14 allowed to keep poultry or fowl penned-up outside? 3. Do you object to your neighbor keeping chickens in their back 13 1 yard? 4. Do you object to your neighbor keeping fowl (e.g. wild ducks, 14 0 eese, turkeys, etc.) in their back yard? 5. Would you object to your neighbor keeping a rooster(s) in their , ,� back yard? 6. Should the owner of poultry and/or fowl be allowed to butcher the 0 14 animal on an urban residential lot? 7. Should the owner of poultry and/or fowl be required to provide 11 1 coops and fences for the poultry and/or fowl in their back yard? 8. Should the owner of poultry and/or fowl be allowed to sell eggs 4 $ from their urban residential lot? 9. Should keeping poultry and/or fowl in the back yard of an urban 11 1 residential lot require a minimum lot area? 10. If you answered YES to question No. 9, what should the minimum -> lot area be? Select only one option below: x � z Y �� Responses: r`�-.�� k �� 0 6,000 square foot lot area � �� .r � �� y-� �� . 1 12,000 square foot lot area ��-�� -r, 4 One-half acre (21 780 square feet) �� `� �� , � �� 1 One acre (43,560 square feet) �� 0 Two acres (87,120 square feet) �"" �'� � �� l� 5 Five acres (217 800 square feet) � z� ��`� �� ' � � �� QUESTION: YES NO 11. Would you support an ordinance amendment that allows residents on an urban residential lot to keep other small farm animals (e.g. 0 14 pigmy goats, pot-bellied pigs, honeybees, pigeons and other wild game) in their back yard? 12. Assuming this photograph of a coop and pen complies with all � ordinance regulations; would you accept its placement on the � urban residential lot next to your property? ��S 4 YJ y ' ,,� � �� L +��d�s � �l'j ti L � F�9 r �� i� � . i �'+�.' �- � f ✓ � � 3 '� ie y '�'� �- v � F,f ��. Y / ;1a � � f � t�i'4 is` y� � � 0 1 J iN�S ,+�� J f. 1+� �'i��+�� ) � i �'�., � �� i t � �w� ry�'� .'_ �� .:, � ��. ��1 � F ) dr C s I r 1 � �ib'�'At�' � S J. 4 {... � + ' F � S } Y � .� � r ) r } � '�� '� _ .� � � �ff S � � y F i�' � �'v 1 r.;, t : � � � . �� .� `. 13. Do you have addit omments you would like to say regarding a homeowner keeping poultry and/or fowl in the back yard of their urban residential lot in Cottage Grove? RESPONSES: 1. No chicicens, poultry, pigs...Move- 2. Buy rural land for all livestocic on 5 acres. 3. I can see a lot of tension amongst neighbors, stinlc, noise, attracting other animals. These people need to live on acreage to do such a thing! 4. This should not be allowed. 5. Should not be allowed. 6. Don't allow anv farm animals in the citv. Rats will come. Thank you for participating in this Opinion Survey. Some of the results from the survey may be presented to the Cottage Grove Planning Commission on December 17, 2012. The Planning Commission will meet in the City Council Chambers at the Public Safety/Fire and City Hall; 12800 Ravine Parkway at 7:00 PM. This meeting is open to the public. If you have questions, contact John McCool, Senior Planner at 651-458-2874 or jmccoolCc�cottage-qrove. orq. Robert Janicek 8571 Jeffery Ave S Cottage Grove, MN 55016 651-458-1021 October Sth, 2012 City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission 7516 80�' Street Cottage Grove, MN 55016 Dear Planning Commission et al.: I am a long-time resident of our City, and I am writing primarily to share information regarding the subject of urban chickens. Although I am a supporter of this topic, I have provided both supportive and not so supportive information in the interest of the Committee making the best infoimed decision possible for all residents in CG. I have also provided some humor, I'm hopeful that this effort does not offend or make light of this situation, but provide a bit of levity that seerns to be often missing in our busy lifestyles. The subject of urban chicken keeping and city farming are popular topics of late, with many communities amending existing or adopting new rules for land use including the allowance of what was once considered livestock animals such as chickens. On one side of the fence (no pun intended), you have folks who immediately envision cute fuzzy chicks for their children, or who have a harkening back to theii• farmstead upbringing, or simply people who have an irrational fear of food borne iliness and believe that keeping your own chickens for eggs somehow totally prevents this risk. On the other side of the fence you have folks that believe chickens are truly farm animals with no personality and should exclusively be treated as such and that allowing urban chicken keeping will result in people having cows and horses in their residential backyards and chickens running rampant throughout the neighborhood. Somewhere around the fence line is the truth; in fact both sides of the argument above contain blatant misinformation. If one were to research cities with existing laws the t�•uth would probably be more on the side that urban chicken keeping does succeed and truly is of liitle or no impact, pro or con, on a city such as ours. I'm hopeful that the Committee can see through the emotion and above the ignorance that seems to be inherently related to this issue and see it for what it really is and that is a handful of people wanting to keep another type of non-dangerous, quiet, non-intrusive animal as a pet (with egg rewards!). The safety net for the City on this issue is revoking a potential amendment to city code; it is truly a low risk proposal with great marketing payoff and revenue generating potential. I urge the committee to make an informed decision based on facts and data, I'm confident that based on facts and data your decision wil] be a supportive one. I look forward to your recommendation to the Council, and politely ask that you keep me informed on this issue via email at bob@bitsh•eam.net. Sincerely and with due respect, • r "� �rs�l;ab."r+;�g��';� 1 � ��'�i;'.C� .. ��,��__; ti ocT o a 20�2 � C1TY (7F GO`�f�,uG �i;GV � From: Sent: To: Subject: David Campbell <davelcamp@gmail.com> Wednesday, November 07, 2012 5:34 PM John McCoo) Re: Planning Commission Comments - Report to City Councii RE: Backyard Chicken Ord. Thanlc you for the update. I do not have a problem with keeping chickens. I have a problem with my neighbors keeping chickens, I have this problem because their yard is a dump. � If they were clean and their yard was maintained (to the city requirements) I would not have complained. I will not get into what I do for a living but I can assure you that I know about property valuation. Based on my years of experience in this area I can assure you that my property is worth less money and it will take me much longer to sell my home, simply because these people live next door. I have the following recommendations. l. People who want chickens should not have a legitimate city complaint in the past 3 years. (no trash in the front yard, no high weeds...). They should have a proven track record of keeping their property in good (city acceptable) order. 2. The coop and such should comply with specific standards. I would guess that PETA or some other animal society would have good guidelines. 3. Every neighbor should have to "sign off' on the application. I have rental property next to me so I think that it is unlikely that the home owners really care. 4. The homeowner should have a 6 foot privacy fence installed to at least the standard of a professional around the whole back yard. I have no problem with the home owner installing the fence but it should be of a specific quality. . � 5. The homeowner should pay a fee and agree 3 or 4 inspections each year. I think that the property owner should pay enough in fees to cover this cost rather than making all of the residents pay for their "hobby". Thanks again for keeping me in the loop. 1��z�r�2 fia:lV�yron �ailey, D�r7iok L�hrk�, J�stin Olsen, Jezx �'�terson, D�v� I'hi�c�e, Johi1 Buirbank, Tolu� It�c�oal, I��th� I�ennis 1 rorr�� Aut�urzn Car�s�n Hello, M� nam� i,� A.utturu�. ��rlson, �r�d I�m �. junic�r �t Pa�'k �Iig1� ��001, I pr�vi��u�ly sent an email to th� �2ty couin�il marn�ers and 1;lae masror about �lie far7vI i�i �oG�a,�e Grrc��ve topi�, r watcld lik.e �a prouid� �z�ore i�ri!`oi f�r t�.em an�. the al�o t�.e pl�nnin� comniission. I drn inter�ste�, and ��inC�271B�. �,bdil� t�i� �'c7'�VI OPf�11i�.zlce isst�� I�m t��rpos�t� tc� �,llo�in� fc��v1 in th� cit� of Catkage �rov� f�r tnulti�le reasc�ns inclucling �a��z�d�n�d fawl, 'unn�c��ary st��'erir��, �.�,k�� casts, anc� mdre. th�r� are a f�r•� iterns #1�'t I t�vauld lik� to brir�� up, Wit� ��very E�ackyard her� thar� �re raasters r.�r�i� Are sz�F�ring. Yn n,iany �i�i�s rooster� ar� not �llow�d, �eeau�� oost�r� �r� not a11o'w�d t�i�y �r� se�n �� dispos�bl� �tr�ci eitk�er t�i� Q� suffer inuncns�ly. A�s� l�t suu�utler 1 faur�t� � young U1�iGl��n in, my �o�il'age �rr� l�acl�y�rtl. This cluok�n wa� bar�r�d by it� ]egs thr�s having �� er�c�ur� �uff�rin� ;Ear a.n t�tc�ld peri�t� �f tim�. Tfi� �ost ta h��use ol�ie�.ens pr��r�y is quite a Ia��e �rr�autl�, Aiv�.u�11y individ�t�i chi�kens ��st �2$S for the �xtensiv� amotu�t +af �ttp�alie� n��d�tl. t�n to�► of th�t th�re are sfat� u� eosts c�f $�,87Q �ld �ven mare t,ar veteriria�rian casts, Many fam�ti�s just d�z�'t hav� ih� fin�.n�ial means t�► �r�,ise ehi�ken� prtip�i•ly. The z•�sults ��` unirifa�rried citiz�n� c�n be s1�o�� in th� SL`�• Tri�h�me articl� tiil�d "�attage �rave debates it �'r��rl is fa,ir". �n this at�i'icle th�r� i� � pictur� sh�wn o� �. Ghild w�i� h�s to benc� over i� her chi�:ken's �oop. This is p��lem�ti� b��;aus� ch�ckeiis arc� inde�c3 �irds �nd n�ed vertical s�mce ta t�tu'i`ve in their livit�g qua�r��r�. `rher� tivould b+� an inereasi�ig �rnount pl ��sts �ssociated �rri�lz th� city a� �a�kta�� Gr�►�ve t� ke�� the rul�s in �lle t�rdin�nce� up�ield city wi�e. � wt�uld �ppreciate ��tere �a 1�� n informe�. diseussion c�xl tliis topiG. For tbat r��on, T�ni ser�din� sr�rne linlcs that sl��«r tbe harm�it� eff`ects o3�' uxbas�/sul�t.r.t�ba� fow� 1��ping anc� tl��t provide ��ampl�s a� wl��t �t��r �citi�,� hav� ��n� with th� isst��. T`ha�c ��« for ycsu�t c;�nsid�ratip��. ht�p://�rrww.warldpc��ltiy.netlL��x•s�11e�.Yth/�Q 1'�! 11 /S�cky€�rd,-c1��ken-own�rs �I111I$11]� �birds- 11��Y4�l�l h�t�x:f/v�rti�v.r�+��hingto�.p� s t. �am/loc�tl/k��ckyard-c;ilicl�en-ba�ix�-pra��xGes-fQ��1-r��ult-unva�nted- rac�st�rs/ stc�r�.htinl Sf Z/201 ��,l�tn� Re�t�ea� �7ovrm c�n 7`lz�ir CYu�k: A1�a.n�l��ed �arm �zlirrtals Fi111TtinYan� S�cie�Gie� stai� k�ttp:flw� 12rnj�ras.aspx �11121�12 �haw A��;a�in� t�.� .�l�r� �ir�� r�f Bacl€��xd �hicl��ns Jayc� S7�,yton ht�p:l/�rv�v.cha�nr�c�rn/fooc�-�ews/1 �4��7/the-dark�,�id�-af-��;kyard-�hicker��i 1 �t�p:llww�v.city�r .com/torant�/�i�kyne�sh��ws/loc�U�-ticlef 1829'�S--f�a�kyaad-cl�ick��s-cl�bateT deferred.-inde�'initely Auturrui ��rlsan ZQ/T0 3�J�d �r'J015 �JNIltI1�I31SI5Sl� 5L9L89LZ59 CZ�� Z0Zf9�fLZ From: Sent: To: Subject: Hi Mr. McCool, Autumn Carlson <autumnfall555@yahoo.com> Thursday, December 06, 2012 5:44 PM John McCool Re: Keeping of Poultry in Urban Residential Neighborhoods � Thank you for tracking me down and responding. I'm sorry about the email mishap. I appreciate the information regarding the meeting. I hope the links and resources I sent are useful. I will continue to look for resources that may be helpful to aid in having an informed discussion. I will reattach the links I sent before onto this email. My previous correspondence was done by fax so I don't know how many people wanted to type in all of the URL addresses to follow the links. I hope that the planning commission will realize what a detriinent having poultry in the bacicyards of urban lots would be for the animals, neighbors, and the city. I will be attending the meeting on the 17Th. Thank you for yoiu consideration. Here are some links to look into: Increased Demand for Placement of "Urban Farm" Animals htt�://www.chickenrunrescue.org/surrender chart.pdf Veterinary Expenses for Urban Rescues as Indicator of Poor Care http://www.chickenrunrescue.or vet chart.pdf Casualties of Urban Agriculture http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.101506023 3 6545201.676806.475016785200&tvpe=3 http://www.worldpoultry.net/Layers/Health/2012/11Bacicyard-chicken-owners-hurting-birds-1109147 W/ http:/Iwww.washingtonpost. com/local/backyard-chicken-boom-produces-fowl-result-unwanted- roosters/2012/11/23/4fd39524-33 de-11 e2-9cfa-e41bac906cc9_story.html 5/1/2012 Utne Reader pown on Their Cluck: Abandoned Farm Animals Fill Humane Societies staff http://www.utne. com/environment/humane-so cieties-zmOz 12mj zros. aspx 2/1/2012 Chow Magazine the Dark Side of Backyard Chickens Joyce Slayton http:l/www. chow. com/food-news/104627/the-dark-side-of-backyard-chickens/ http://www. citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/182978--backyard-chickens-debate-defei�ed- indefinitely Autumn Carlson From: Sent: To: Subject: Hi Mr. McCool, Autumn Carlson <autumnfall555@yahoo.com> Sunday, December 09, 2012 6:46 PM John McCool Autumn Carlson- Chicken Ordinance presentation When a chicicen flew into my yard this summer we brought it to a chicken rescue in Minneapolis that has talcen in more than 800 chicicens over the years. I keep in contact with them and also am a volunteer at The Chicken Run Rescue. The owner of the rescue, Mary Britton Clouse, has offered to give the Cottage Grove planning commission a similar presentation of what they were asked to give to Golden Valley Environmental Commission. They are very knowledgeable when it comes to chicken issues and ordinances. They also have written plans to use for inspection guidelines at the request of Minneapolis Animal Care and Control and St. Paul Animal Control. Having them present would add more information and ideas to the discussion. Let me know if you would want them to present at a future meeting. Thanks, Autumn Carlson This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service. For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com From: Angel Popowitz [mailto:an�elpopowitz@vahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2012 5:09 PM To:John Burbank Subject: Ducks Hi there. So I was wondering what's going on with this duck situation? I read the star tribune article about this situation. I don't think you all understand that this man has no space for these ducks. His back yard backs up to the whole side of my house. His ducks are in the farthest back of his yard which is the closest to our side of our house by our deck and under our kitchen window. I wish you would come out and see where he has these ducl<s placed. Of course any other neighbor barely hears or sees them because he is on a corner and they are the farthest from everyone else but us! Please let me I<now what is happening with this!!! Thank you!! Angel Popowitz Www.an�elpopowitz.blo�spot.com An�elpopowitz@Vahoo.com Poultry and Fowl Ordinance Survey of Other Cornmunities November 2012 PoultrylFowl Allowed Coop Inspection or City Population License Req. Permit Amount Inspections Req. Max. No. of Chickens # of Hens Roosters Butchering Coop Required Coop Standards g�d Permit Coop Setbacks Comments on Urban Lot 9• Setbacks for accessory Lot must nof be on city wa#er or sanitary sewer. Andover 30,89�7 No Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited structures in fhe Lot must be zoned R1, R2 or R3 (Minimum lot zoning district area is 2.5 ac.) located in. Zoning regulations for accessory Builtling permit Ordinance since 2006. Do receive some Anoka 17,331 Yes No N/A N/A 4 4 No No Yes structure in the inspection. 5 ft. side yard complaints, but typically found compliance. zoning district located in. Chickens still an ag use and allowed only m Ag ,Apple Valley A9,801 No Unlimited Yes Ag DiStricfi Ag Buildings pist�icts. City Council just re-evaluat�d ordinance and B�a�ne 58,331 No decided again oniy allow chickens in agricultural districts. Less than 120 sq. 50 ft. from ro ert Solid fence not less than 4 ft. hei ht is re uiretl. Bloomington 83,671 Yes No N/A Only on complaint 4 4 No No Yes ft. & less than 6 ft. Building permit p p y g p basis. in height. line. Changed ordinance in 2011. Brookl n Center 30,204 No Chickens not allowed anywhere in city. Y Considered a farm animal. � Qrd, currentiy allows in Urban Reserve with 5 Brooklyn Park 76,238 No * Yes ac. minimum lot area, City is looking at amending ordinance to allow chickens in resitlentiai neighborhoods. Coop or run must be screened by solid fence. Maximum coop Minimum of 50 feet height is 10 ft., from residential Stora e of chicken feed must be in rodent roof Burnsville 60,664 Yes Yes �50 for two N/A 4 4 No Only in R1A District Yes coop floor must Yes g p year permit structure. Min. of 10 container. be a minimum of 12 inches from ft. to property line. ground and not greater than 12 inches. Poultry and Fowl Ordinance Survey of Other Communities November 2012 PoultrylFowl Allowed Coop Inspection or City Population License Req. Permit Amount Inspections Req. M�. No. of Chickens # of Hens Roosters Butchering Coop Required Coop Standards gldg. Permit Coop Sethacks Comments on Urban Lot Chicken is a farm animal and is allowed only in Champlin 23,223 No Agricultural District. City has very little Ag zoned land. Chickens allowed in Ag District, Minimum of 2.5 acre lot area. City Council has looked at Chanhassen 23,247 No ordinances, but decitled not to change ord, �.ots only 15,000 sq. ft, in area, _ __ _ _ Chaska 24,002 No Animal & Fowl Ord. Agricultural district only. No ordinance. Tell people they can't have Columbia Heights 19,619 No chickens. Ordinance proposed 7 yrs. Ago but not supported by CC, _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ Council discussed three year ago. becided they Coon Rapids 61,766 No do not want fiarm animais in urban neighborhoods. Cottage Grove 34,828 No Limited by PCA Farm animal. Minimum of 5 acres of land. feedlot regs. _ _ _ _ _ * Being debatetl. Only enforce ord. based on Crystal 22,168 No * complaints received, Roof structure, 1 sq. ft. of window for every 15 sq. ft. Yes, building permit Coop and pen area of floor area. must setback a required if coop is Duluth 86,256 Yes Yes $10 Annual Annually 5 5 No No Yes Minimum coop greater than 120 sq. minimum of 25 ft. and pen area ft from adjoining � must not be less residential structure. than 10 sq. ft. per chicken. Poultry and Fowl Ordinance Survey of Other Communities November 2012 , PoultrylFowl Allowed Coop Inspection or City Population License Req. Permit Amount Inspections Req. Max. No. of Chickens # of Hens Roosters Butchering Coop Required Coop Standards gld Permit Coop Setbacks Comments on Urban Lot g• Minimum coop area is 2 sq. ft. Coop and attached per chicken and 5 fenced area must sq. ft. for pen. setback a minimum Attached fence area is re uired and must be Initial and annual a Eagan 64,456 Yes Yes $50 annually 5 5 No No Yes Coop and pen With building permit. of 10 feet from rear com letel enclosed. E s cannot be sold. inspections. must be p y gg connected and lot line and 5 feet fro completely m side lot line. enclosed. Chickens only allowed in rural areas and only if Eden Prairie 61,151 No legally non-conforming use. CC is discussing honeybee in urban neighborhoods. Chickens considered livestock. Livestock Edina 4$,262 No prohibited in residential districts. Elk River 23,101 No Minimum lot area is 5 acres. _ _ _ _ Faribault 23,409 No Enforce only if complaint received. Was been an issue of discussion, but not widely supported. Planning Commission recommended ord. CC Farmington 2�,�69 No denied ord, amendment because they do not believe chickens should be in urban residential districts. Allowed only in agricultural districts with a Forest Lake 18,59� No minimum of five acres wi#h a minimum of two grazable acres. 50 feet from all Fridley 27,515 Yes Yes $100 annual Annually None N/A N!A Determined in the Yes None Yes residential review process . structures Golden Valle 20 427 No � * In process of evaluating. Probably Feb. 2013 y � direction from CC will be given. Poultry and Fowl Ordinance Survey of Other Communities November 2012 PoultrylFowl Allowed Coop Inspection or City Population License Req. Permit Amount Inspections Req. Max. No. of Chickens # of Hens Roosters Butchering Coop Required Coop Standards gldg. Permit Coop Setqacks Comments on Urhan Lot 4 per acre and a 4 per acre and a 25 ft. setbaek from �ne acre minimum Food eontainer required. Hastings 22,217 No Yes minimum of one minimum of one (�o Not addressed Yes Solid floor Yes property line 350 fit ma�led notice. School, museum or acre of land. acre of land, agricultural uses only. Fence requir�d. Hopkins 17,70� No Inver Grove Only if complaint 25 feet from Agrieultural Districts only. Minimum of 1.75 acre 33,774 No Yes Yes received property lines paresl. Considered ordinance in 2011 but no Heights action taken. Unlimited in Ag Unlimited in Ag Chickens allowed in Ag District with a minimum of Lakeville 56,534 No District but 10 acre District but 10 Yes Yes 10 acres of land. minimum acre minimum Minimum of 10 acres antl in Rural, Rural Lina Lakes 20,505 No Executive, and Rural Business Districts. Max. # of hens M�. # of hens Accessory structure Maple Grove 62,436 No 12 chickens per ac. and roosters is and roesters is setback for Ag Allo�ved in Ag Qistrict with a 1.5 acre minimum, 1 Z per ac. 12 per ac. district. Interior floor Leg banding required for each chicken. Climate At time of license space a minimum 5 ft. from rear and control maintained between 32-85 degrees Maplewood 38,374 Yes Yes $75 per year approval and 10 10 No No Yes of 4 sq. ft. per side property lines. Fahrenheit. Runs a minimum of 10 sq. ft. per renewals. bird. Minimum bird. height 6 ft. Minnetonka 50,046 No Minimum of one acre for farm animals, New Brighton 21,496 Yes No N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A No None No None No restrictions. If complaints received, they determine if action is necessary. $0 for up to 3 Accessory structure poultry/fowl. Can apply to get permit for more than 3 New Hope 20,486 Yes Yes No 3 3 No No No N/A Building permit. setback for zoning poultry/fowl. $75 for 4 or district located in. more. 25 feet from any Wire fencing in pen must be a minimum of 18 Unlimited but inches above the ground. Chickens must be kept Northfield 20,454 Yes No N/A N/A requires a minimum 6 No N/A Yes N/A NIA residential structure in covered structure or fenced enclosure at all of 5 acres. on adjacent lot. times. Poultry and Fowl Ordinance �urvey of Other Communities NovemF�er 2012 PoultrylFowl Allowed Coop Inspection or City Population License Req. Permit Amount Inspections Req. Max. No. of Chickens # of Hens Roosters Butchering Coop Required Coop Standards gldg. Permit Coop Setbacks Comments on Urban Lot Setbacks for Oakdale 27,538 Yes Yes No fee. Periodicall Depends on size of Depends on size If approved by No Yes None Building Permit for accessory structure 75 % of owners/occupants within 150 feet. y lot. of lot. neighbors. accessory structures. in the zoning district for property. Plymouth 71,263 No Based on State Rural areas only. Statute Prior Lake 23,010 No 10 ft. from property Ramsey 23,865 Yes No N/A Upon complaints 6 6 No No Yes None Building Permit line. Lot size determine how many chickens. Proposed Ord. Proposed Ord. Proposed Ord. Proposed Ord. * Started rocess to amend ordinance. Richfield 35,376 Yes * No N/A NIA 3 3 Yes No P Amendment Amendment Amendment Amendment Coop floor a Minimum of 75 feet minimum of 12 from adjoining Must obtain written permission from neighbors Rosemount 22,139 Yes Yes $25 annually N/A 3 3 No N/A Yes inches and not Yes residential shows yards border the property. Maximum loft more than 24 structures and a height is six feet. Must screen loft or coop from inches above minimum of 10 from view by fencing or evergreen plantings. ground. property line. 5 ft. from property Roseville 33,807 Yes No N/A N/A No limit No limit Yes N/A No No Building Permit line and 6 ft. from Not regulated. house Savage 27,147 No Shakopee 37,652 No Only in Rural or Ag Districts 30 feet from Shoreview 25,118 Yes $30 for two years 2 years At fhe time permit is 4 4 No No Yes Yes residential issued. structures South St Paul 2D,27� No _ St Louis Fark 45,505 No Poultry and Fowl Ordinance Survey of Other Communities Noveml�er 2012 City Population PoultrylFowl Allowed License Req. Permit Amount Inspections Req. Max. No. of Chickens # of Hens Roosters Butchering Coop Required Coop Standards Coop Inspection or Coop Setbacks Comments on Urban Lot Bldg. Permit Coop and pen 3 ft. side and rear No chickens in the house. Must provide a secure Stillwater 18,299 Yes Not yet Every two Periodically 5 5 No No Yes must equal at Yes Yard setback and 6 and well ventilated roofed structure. An attached determined years. least 10 sq. ft. of ft. from other area per chicken. structures. pen and protective overhead netting is required. West St Paul 19,605 No A minimum of five acres is required. White Bear Lak� 23,820 No Council voted it down two years ago. Wootlbury 63,143 No Chickens allowed on five or more aaes of land, 52 Communities Surveyed 17 Communities (33)% allow poultry/fowl on urban residential lots 35 Cornmunities (67%0) prohibit poultry/fowl on urban residential lotc� ', Five communities in the process of evaluating ordinances.