Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Page 4 of 7 <br /> <br />For the Planning Commission’s consideration, staff has drafted language in Subd 6 A. 3, that the <br />licensee shall be responsible for cleaning up the chicken keeping areas and disposing of waste in <br />a sanitary manner. This language is in line with the regulations for cleaning up litter for cats and <br />dogs. Staff has not changed Subd. 6 A. 4 which relates to chickens and chicken keeping areas <br />constituting a nuisance for adjacent properties. The Planning Commission may consider this <br />language and other possible revisions to this requirement. <br /> <br />d. Consider language to allow for the roaming of chickens <br /> <br />At the August meeting, the Planning Commission commented on the language is Subd. 6 A. 5 <br />which references that roaming chickens would be in violation of the conditions for keeping <br />chickens. Members of the Planning Commission noted that chickens are foragers and there are <br />benefits to allowing chickens to roam in the backyard to eat invasive insects. The Planning <br />Commission made a recommendation for staff to review possible ordinance language that would <br />allow for the roaming of chickens in a fenced area. <br /> <br />The City Code language for chickens already includes an exercise yard, defined as a larger fenced <br />area adjacent to chicken coop and pen that provides space for exercise and foraging for bird when <br />supervised. Staff has added in a provision in item Subd. 6 A.2.c. to reference an exercise yard as <br />optional and a space where chickens can roam while supervised by the licensee. <br /> <br />Staff has also added language to Subd. 6 A. 5 to clarify that roaming chickens outside of proper <br />enclosures would be in violation of the conditions of this section of the code. <br /> <br />e. Consider language to allow for a coop to be interior to a detached garage <br /> <br />The current keeping of chickens ordinance does not allow for chickens to be housed in a detached <br />garage or other accessory structure. At the August meeting, the Planning Commission discussed <br />this requirement and made a recommendation for staff to review other ordinances and provide <br />language for the Commission to consider allowing for chickens to be kept within a detached <br />structure, meaning the coop is located within another structure. <br /> <br />Staff reviewed ordinance language for 10 other communities and did not find ordinances that allow <br />for chicken coops to be interior to a garage. Seven ordinances specifically prohibit chickens from <br />being kept in a dwelling or a garage. It could also be difficult to apply location and setback <br />requirements to a coop and pen that is enclosed within a structure that was approved for a non- <br />chicken use. The drafted language does not include changes to this provision. <br /> <br />Section 410.01, Subd. 3, Chickens License <br /> <br />As part of the City Council’s review of the keeping of chickens ordinance, amendment language <br />was also suggested for the City Code section for chicken licenses. At the August meeting, the <br />Planning Commission reviewed the City Council’s directed revisions for Section 410 including <br />modifying the license fee, removing the leg banding requirement and updating the resource <br />referenced. Staff has provided further revisions to Section 410 for consideration based on the <br />recommendations of the Planning Commission.