AGENDA #3a(4)

June 11, 2007 Town Council Business Meeting

Petition for a Text Amendment to Allow Agricultural, Non-Livestock in Residential–1, 1-A, and LD1 Zoning Districts

Petitioner:  Celeste Mayer                     Address: 110 Cynthia Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Specifically this is a request to allow a resident to keep six (6) or less hens on his/her property for egg production for personal uses. 

Value to Citizens

• Eliminates contradiction between zoning rules and Town of Chapel Hill, Code of Ordinances[1]
• Supports organic gardening (compositing, reduces and deters the use of pesticides and herbicides)
• Supports clean water (reduces run off of pesticides and herbicides)
• Source of personal enrichment for residents and families (low maintenance/low cost pet,  hand raised chickens are tame and seek human interaction)
• Nutrition (hens will lay approximately 1 egg/day for 8 months of the year from age 6 months to 6 years depending on care and variety[2])
• Eliminates zoning violation of numerous residents currently keeping 6 or less chickens for use described above

Augments Against Possible Concerns

• Disease – The Centers for Disease Control does not advise against keeping chickens[3]
• Property value – 6 chickens have a smaller impact than 4 adult dogs (waste, noise, and structures for outside shelter)

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[1] Code of Ordinances, Town of Chapel Hill

Sec. 4-10. Keeping certain animals in town.

(d)   Chickens.

(1)   No person shall allow his or her chickens to run at large within the corporate limits of the town.

(2)   It shall be unlawful for any person to keep more than twenty (20) chickens within the corporate limits of the town.

(3)   Chickens must be kept a minimum of thirty (30) feet from the nearest residence other than that of the owner.

(4)   All chicken houses and lots must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.

(5)   It shall be unlawful to raise chickens for commercial purposes within the corporate limits of the town.

[2] Luttman, Chickens in Your Backyard, A Beginner’s Guide, 1976, Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pa.

[3] CDC FAQs - We have a small flock of chickens. Is it safe to keep them?
Yes. In the United States there is no need at present to remove a flock of chickens because of concerns regarding avian influenza. The U.S. Department of Agriculture monitors potential infection of poultry and poultry products by avian influenza viruses and other infectious disease agents. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/qa.htm