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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – September 8, 2021 2 Senior Planner Jagoe stated starting in 2020, the City Council began discussions on ordinance language with regards to the keeping of chickens in Arden Hills. A survey was conducted in November 2020 to garner input from residents on the relaxation of standards for the keeping of chickens. Those survey results were presented to the City Council at a work session in January. Staff was provided guidance on general parameters for consideration of a proposed chickens ordinance. That draft language was reviewed by the City Council at two work sessions on July 12th and July 26th, 2021. Senior Planner Jagoe commented in preparing the draft ordinance language, the City deferred to the document that is used by a number of adjacent communities titled “Recommendations for Municipal Regulation of Urban Chickens”. This guide was the basis for development of ordinance standards and best practices for licensing requirements. Similar to the Cities of Stillwater and Falcon Heights, the proposed language includes a requirement that a resident who intends to keep chickens shall have read the document outlining best care practices. Senior Planner Jagoe explained at the July 26th special work session, Staff was directed to bring forward the proposed ordinance to the Planning Commission in September for the first review and to hold a public hearing to receive public comment on the keeping of chickens. Following the public hearing, the draft ordinance language with recommendation of the Planning Commission would be brought back to the City Council at a future meeting for subsequent discussion and direction on next steps. Senior Planner Jagoe provided the Commission with an overview on the Ordinance amendment and offered the following Findings of Fact: 1. The City of Arden Hills is proposing to amend ordinance language to allow for the keeping of chickens. 2. The proposed ordinance will include amendments to the language of Chapter 13 – Zoning Code of the City Code. 3. Amendments to the Zoning Code regulations require a public hearing prior to action by the City Council. Senior Planner Jagoe stated staff recommends approval of Planning Case 21-022 as presented (or as modified by Planning Commission) for a Zoning Code Amendment to Chapter 13 of the Arden Hills City Code to add ordinance language within Location for Buildings Housing Farm Animals for requirements to allow chicken coops in residential districts including Municipal Code language as amended to Chapter 4 as presented in the September 8, 2021 Report to the Planning Commission. Senior Planner Jagoe reviewed the options available to the Planning Commission on this matter: 1. Recommend Approval as Submitted 3. Recommend Denial 4. Table Acting Chair Wicklund opened the floor to Commissioner comments.