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Town of Chapel Hill Executive Summary |
Meeting Date: 03-09-2009 AGENDA #7a |
Title of Agenda Item: Land Use Management Ordinance Text Amendment – Non-Commercial Keeping of Chickens in Residential Zoning Districts
Background: The attached staff memorandum includes background information on a proposed Land Use Management Ordinance text amendment regarding the non-commercial keeping of chickens in residential zoning districts. The text amendment would allow the keeping of up to 10 chickens in all residential zoning districts in accordance with the regulations in the Town’s Code of Ordinances.
We also present an associated amendment to the Code of Ordinances to reduce the number of chickens that can be kept from twenty (20) to ten (10) and to eliminate the keeping of chickens in front yards.
[Also attached: cover memorandum from the Town Manager]
Fiscal Note: This change in regulations will have a fiscal impact when the construction of a chicken coop involves construction elements similar to those of a shed, a concrete pad, or a six foot tall fence. In those cases, a property owner would present a Zoning Compliance Permit application to the Town for review by Planning Department staff. The fee associated with a Zoning Compliance Permit is intended to recover the costs of staff time spent on the review of the Zoning Compliance Permit application.
If the practice of keeping chickens increases in the Town’s urban residential zoning districts, where lots are smaller in size than in the Town’s rural zoning districts, resident demand for enforcement of the Code may increase and require shifting or additional resources.
Staff Recommendation(s): That the Council enact Revised Ordinance A amending the Chapel Hill Land Use Management Ordinance regarding the non-commercial keeping of female chickens in residential zoning districts as well as Revised Ordinance B amending the Town Code of Ordinances to reduce the number of chickens allowed to be kept and to eliminate front yards for the keeping of chickens. Ordinance A and B have been revised to clarify the extent of a front yard.
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