Backyard Chicken Meeting Set for Tuesday in Downers Grove
The Downers Grove council is scheduled to discuss proposed amendments to the fowl ordinance during a standing committee meeting at 6 p.m.
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Downers Grove commissioners will debate possible changes to the village's fowl regulations during a standing committee meeting Tuesday night.
The meeting—scheduled for 6 p.m. at Village Hall, 801 Burlington Ave.—comes one month after Commissioner Becky Rheintgen asked that the council look into the possibility of increasing the number of chickens permitted, decreasing setback requirements, banning roosters, and requiring a license or permit for keeping chickens.
The current ordinance—adopted in 1987—defines fowl as "any domesticated bird, poultry or water fowl, except for homing pigeons and caged birds kept as house pets." A maximum of four fowl aged 18 weeks or older and four fowl younger than 18 weeks are permitted on residential properties.
Per village code, all fowl must be entirely confined in a pen, coop, building or other enclosure at all times. Enclosures must be set back at least 50 feet from any property line and shall be kept "clean, sanitary and free from all refuse."
In a report published Jan. 10, Village Manager Dave Fieldman detailed more than a month of research on the current fowl ordinance and proposed changes. The document also included a survey of surrounding municipalities and more than a dozen responses to questions posed by the council and Downers Grove residents.
READ: Report on Backyard Chickens Sets Stage for Downers Grove Council Discussion
According to the report, village staff used council recommendations to put together alternative regulations, which would prohibit roosters and guinea fowl to minimize noise, and ban slaughtering. The regulations are for council consideration, and are not technically staff recommendations, according to village officials.
The alternative regulations would change the 50-foot setback rule to just 20 feet, while implementing new rules for maximum coop size. Under the proposed changes, nearly all residential properties would be permitted to house backyard chickens, according to the report.
"The proposal would result in an increase in the number of lots eligible to keep backyard chickens from 509 to 13,883, which includes all but a handful of single-family residential properties," the report states. "Based on other communities that allow chickens, the number of permits sought is unlikely to add significantly to the workloads of existing Community Development Department staff, reviewers, inspectors and code enforcement officers."
The staff proposal would also implement a more formal process for keeping chickens, requiring a permits for coop construction and any electrical elements.
According to the agenda for Tuesday's meeting, the council will discussed proposed amendments before opening the floor for public comments.
Downers Grove officials last discussed the fowl ordinance on Jan. 8, when the council shot down a proposal by Commissioner William Waldack to let voters weigh in on the ordinance by placing a referendum on the April 9 consolidated election ballot.
READ: Downers Grove Council Shoots Down Proposed Chicken Coop Referendum
Mayor Martin Tully, along with Commissioners Geoff Neustadt and Marilyn Schnell, said the issue should be decided by the council after sufficient research and debate.
"We will have a standing committee of the council where we will focus on this issue and have the opportunity for public comment in an open environment where we can actually work through these issues," Tully said. "You can't do that in a referendum setting."
Waldack—who has publicly stated his opposition to changing current regulations—expressed his frustration with the council's decision. He argued that more residents would have taken the time to attend meetings or educate themselves if the issue had gone to referendum.
"Most of the public is unaware of what it is we are considering, and it actually has an impact on their health and safety, property values, predators and all the other problems we have," Waldack said.
Rheintgen, who was absent during the Jan. 8 meeting, said 25-year-old fowl ordinance deserves the council's attention, especially in light of the recent movement toward sustainability and locally-grown food.
"The ordinance as it's written excludes a great deal of our residents due to their lot size, and I think there may be a way to modify the ordinance to be more inclusive to residents while still being considerate and respectful of their neighbors," Rheintgen said last month.
Rheintgen's proposal was prompted by two recent code enforcement cases, both of which involve lots that are too small to house chicken coops under current regulations. Rheintgen said she was not acquainted with either woman before the meeting. Because both cases are still pending, the village declined to provide any further comment.
Four other complaints have been received by the village since 2007, all of which resulted in the removal of chickens.
There are currently 14 municipalities with property in DuPage County that allow backyard chickens: Bartlett, Batavia, Burr Ridge, Darien, Downers Grove, Itasca, Lemont, Naperville, Oak Brook, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Warrenville, Wayne and Woodale.
Of the nine townships surveyed by Downers Grove staff, all nine defer to DuPage County rules, which allow chickens only on properties five acres or larger, or on properties of 40,000 square feet or larger with approved 4H-related projects.
Despite the proposal put forth in the report, the staff acknowledges the keeping chickens on single-family residential properties may have negative impacts on surrounding properties. The report includes answers to more than a dozen community questions related to noise, disease, odors, predators and proper care. (The complete report can be viewed to the top right of this article.)
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patty
7:39 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
Chicken coops? In Downers Grove? Seriously? I can't believe the council has to deal with chicken coop codes.
stan urban
8:38 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
Discussion about chicken coops given more attention than the discussion regarding DG largest employer and largest corporate partner Good Sam Hospital. Something is wrong with this picture. Nieman Marcus Christmas catalog was offering a 100 k chicken coop, is that a viable solution?
Ray
8:57 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
Where do you see an article about Good Sam??
Max Gruppy
9:23 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
The Village's scheme to raise taxes on commuters has got to be of more concern than chicken coops.. This is ridiculous.
Kelly
11:41 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
The village ordinances that still allow the operation if Ace and Garden Spas need the sort of treatment this Chicken business is recieving. Even with a seemingly legit website, that lists no prices or services, the talking in code and the requests for pictures to be posted of the technicians as well as the ratings for services that include Hot and talented, it seems it is business as usual at these two places located on a main drag og shopping and dining in our community and yes only ours. Not the towns around us. Why, because DG allows this here. And more than one.
I want to be clear in the fact that I would like to see our town pass an ordinance or whatever it takes to remove these operations from our village once and for all.
Susan Carroll
11:46 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
I know Lisle has at least one. I was looking for a massage -- the kind they give at Mario Triccoci, not the kind you're talking about -- and I came across a listing for a Lisle massage parlor that made me wish for the kind of eye wash station they had in my high school chemistry lab. Please don't ask me the name because I've forgotten and there's no way I'm Googling THAT again.
Martin Tully
12:55 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Kelly: Village ordinances do not "allow" illegitimate massage-oriented business. On the contrary, the Village has revoked the licenses of two spa establishments following an investigation that uncovered alleged illegal activities. (See: http://www.downers.us/top-stories/2011/11/16/village-revokes-two-massage-licenses) Both matters remain in litigation, as the businesses have contested the revocations.
Kelly
4:59 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Ace Spa and Garden Spa are both open for business and highly rated for satisfaction of services on many of the Asian Massage rating sites and blog sites. It is great that King's is now not operating and that there is currently litigation, but for the last 10 years these businesses (and more, there used to be 5 in total) have been operating as licensed business in Downers Grove, even with previous investigations, previous resident out cry and previous coverage on the Patch, on DG Report and all the ratings these establishments have earned on the internet.
In 2006 I called the village hall to inquire as to the nature and license of one of the Spas and was told "thier license is current, they are a legal business". I am still shocked by that. I can't image during inspections or during checks for currently licensing of the service providers no one got a clue that from the blacked out windows and members only signs.
These services are a personal matter and apparently popular and desired by some, but they do not seem compatible with the Village of Downers Groves directives or reputation. Especially when Westmont seems to be gaining several popular restaurants and businesses, new and remodeled. Our stretch of Ogden is pretty sad in comparision.
Doug Grier
3:11 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Seriously - who really believes these businesses are legit? When I complained about activities outside of these busnesses, the village denied that these business were engaged in illegal activities and I have emails attesting to that. Course, soon enough they were found out for wha they are and were closed down - at least temporarily. The bigger issue remains why DG is so hands-off about codes and development. Lombard and Westmont are eating your lunch as DG declines - Ogden, Belmont, Butterfield and too many other run-down areas to count are proof enough something in your 'hands-off, whattever happens/happens, we are powerless approach' isn't working.
Kelly
5:07 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
As stated above I was also met with the same answer as to the nature of the businesses. I always a financial reason, or is an empty storefront better? Hmmm...yes perhaps an empty storefront is preferred. I know the village cannot control who landlords rent to, but licensing? yes. Also what about the people who are paid to develop DG? Our tax dollars are used to pay these people, groups, paid studies, plans etc. Recently i have only seen a lot of fuss about businesses have to change thier signage now yet again and an overabundance of italian cusine.
William Waldack
4:24 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
As is usually the case with such issues, the pro-chicken people will be out in force. If you don’t want a coop next door to you, you need to attend 1/22 @ 6:00. Don’t squawk later when a family member gets sick, your dog becomes a nuisance, or the person looking to buy your home walks away or wants to pay less.
J D McNugent
5:03 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Just say NO to livestock in the burbs...Hey here is an idea...Move to Dekalb! LOL
Kim Kasallis
10:46 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
I pay over $13K in taxes and need to see the Village is wasting their time & energy contemplating the number of chickens people can have? What will we see next, how many vehicles these people can park on their lawn, what garbage they can sell in their front yards? How about sidewalks in my neighborhood to make it safe for the kids to walk to school or another improvement for the citizens that make Downers Grove the fine place it is!!! If you want chickens, move.
Kelly
5:10 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The village has been talking about sidewalks and curbs for years for areas that currently have the more rural look. A lot of people are still very much against them, sadly.
Mac Miller
11:25 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
We have distinct districts in this town. These districts are regulated to death with ordinances such as no back stops, no more than three structures, fence needs to be X, no pool in c x c lot size, no this, no that, etc. Why are these things put into laws if not to keep the neighborhoods from looking dumpy? With that being said, perhaps chicken coops could be limited to the outer edges of town where lots are bigger and these cute little egg providers can run free without much interference from a neighbor on a postage stamp lot next door. If an individual wants to own and raise chickens, then he/she should seek out an approved area/district. I can see how this will progress now. If you decrease the current requirements for this topic, others will start to ask for decreased requirements for other existing ordinances. By nature, people will always try to push the envelope. When do you draw the line and say enough is enough? I know some residents who think the pool requirements are way to restrictive. What if a few came and started making "waves" about that? Will the council take up the matter for a few complaints? If you are blessed/cursed with a 50 ft. wide lot, the pool restrictions practically make having one impossible. Since those people might think the ordinance unfair, should it be changed? This is about making changes for a select few who want to raise their own eggs. Sort of like changing gun laws for everyone just because a few misused them.
Mac Miller
12:26 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Tammy,
I don't believe that Kim was bragging. She might be interested in knowing where her 13k is going. Our taxes keep going up and it's not outrageous to ask how it's being spent. I think she is trying to say that the village could use their resources for more important matters other than chicken coops. It takes time and MONEY to have the village staff research this topic over say the putting in of sidewalks in Kim's neighborhood. Yes, I am sure she noticed that there were no sidewalks before purchasing. However, it would be in the best interests of the village and the MAJORITY of the residents to have sidewalks to keep our children and us safe. That would be a better use of financial resources. This is just my take on Kim's comment. Of course, she can elaborate, if she so pleases.
Leann
1:18 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
There are no "pending cases" as all of the chickens have been removed from the 2 residences referred to.
This is being discussed because the community would like to be able explore other options for sustainable living, the same options that so many other communities across the country are already open to and doing very well with.
It is the duty of our elected officials to look to the community and discern and represent their needs, not to try to form public opinion.
I wish that the pro-fowl community could come out in force but unfortunately, many of them cannot since they are concerned about losing their own chickens.
Downers Grove has had a pro-fowl ordinance for over 25 years and has had and average of 1 complaint a year in the last 5 years. Considering the success that we have already experienced in this endeavor, it makes perfect sense to modify the codes, bring the majority of chicken owners into compliance and make the codes serve the majority of the residents, rather than the few.
Kelly
5:21 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
IMHO the chicken raising is a passing fad like avacado appliances, screened in garage porches and blue stone patios. In a few years I am sure a lot people will have given up on the fresh eggs. I do agree that roosters should be banned and I am still undecided about the whole fowl movement.
Mac Miller
5:46 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Tammy O,
Hostile much!?!?
Mac Miller
5:50 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Fair enough Tammy. I apologize for commenting that way. That's why I said "I don't believe" and "she might be interested in". Remember, I also said she could elaborate and now I say , correct me" if she sees fit to do so. Btw, do you have anything of importance to add to this thread about the subject? Or are you just here to bash other people's feelings and ideas?