Downers Grove Council Shoots Down Proposed Chicken Coop Referendum
The council will move forward with a Jan. 22 standing committee meeting to discuss possible changes to the village's fowl ordinance.
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The Downers Grove village council will move forward with a public meeting on fowl regulations after shooting down a commissioner's proposal for an April referendum.
As promised during the council's Dec. 18 meeting, Commissioner William Waldack presented two questions for the April 9 consolidated election ballot that could have given voters the opportunity to weigh in on the village's fowl ordinance, which regulates how many chickens, turkeys and other fowl Downers Grove residents may keep as pets.
"Shall the village of Downers Grove amend the ordinances allowing for the expansion of fowl, specifically chickens and/or backyard chicken-raising in Downers Grove?"
"Shall the village of Downers Grove amend the ordinances to reduce property line setbacks to allow for the expansion of chicken-raising in Downers Grove?"
Following a brief discussion, the possibility of a referendum was squashed by Waldack's fellow commissioners and Mayor Martin Tully, all of whom expressed their opposition to the measure. Commissioner Becky Rheintgen, who brought the chicken coop issue before the council last month, was absent Tuesday night.
"I'm generally not in favor of handling policy issues in this fashion," Tully said, reiterating his previous comments that decision-making is the responsibility of elected officials.
Tully thanked Waldack for bringing the questions before the board, but said the issue requires more research and discussion than a referendum would allow. He invited the public to participate instead during a standing committee meeting on the fowl ordinance, scheduled for Jan. 22.
"It's clear to me from the questions we've gotten from the public that we have to define the issue first before having a workshop discussion about it, much less have a referendum where we expect people to exercise the right to vote," Tully said. "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. You can't do that in a referendum setting."
Other commissioners sided with Tully, saying they are committed to working through the issue and making an informed decision.
"I don't think governing by referendum is what we were asked to do by the people of Downers Grove," Geoff Neustadt said. "I'm not in favor of the proposed questions. I think the staff, council and residents of Downers Grove can have a healthy, intelligent and informed conversation on anything from chickens to fire engines to stop signs without going to referendum."
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.
The Downers Grove Council took up the issue of backyard chicken coops during its Dec. 4 meeting at the request of Rheintgen, who asked that village staff 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 village 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."
Because of the space requirements, fewer than 20 percent of Downers Grove residents are permitted to keep chickens, Rheintgen said.
"Since the ordinance was created in 1987, there's been a movement toward sustainability, growing your own food and controlling your own food source, and the trend continues to grow and become more popular," Rheintgen said. "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."
Downers Grove currently has two active enforcement cases against chicken owners who do not meet the space requirements. Rheintgen brought the issue to the council after receiving emails from the residents.
The standing committee meeting on the fowl ordinance will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at Village Hall, 801 Burlington Ave.
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Ann Kerbs
7:02 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I have to agree with the majority of the council. Tweaking regulations by referendum seems odd. Wasn't one of the objections that the village is wasting money looking into this? It seems to me that it would me much more expensive to have a referendum than to research this via a committee. I'd compare it to changing plumbing regs by referendum. It's better to do some research and make a decision based on the best available information than on an emotional or 'gut' feeling. Whether you're anti or pro chickens, let's base the regs on best practices.
Mark Thoman
8:05 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Council has used a variety of methods to obtain public input. A standing committee looked into replacing the FD ladder truck, a major fiscal and public safety decision; an on-line survey provided significant feedback on garbage contract options informing that decision; an advisory referendum led directly to term limits for Council and Mayor.
josh curtis
8:24 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
i am not from downers grove, i live in mason michigan i have chickens, they are wonderful animals. they bring joy plus a food source. when inflation hits later this year and eggs are 5 bucks a dozen everyone in downers grove will wish they had a few hens laying around.
Kent Frederick
10:26 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
What is your basis for suggesting that eggs will go from less than $2 a dozen to $5 a dozen?
DHD
9:56 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Let's see,
Mason, MI-population 8200 population density 1618/sq mile
Downers Grove, IL-population 49,000 population density 3420/sq mile
Apples and Oranges
Michael Axe
11:23 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
My family does not eat alot of eggs or chickens. We are beef eaters. Can I raise cattel and a cow since I want to know where my milk comes from?
Where does all of this end? Downers Grove is not a rural area. It is a metropolitian area. Majority of the residents are professionals who commute daily to their jobs. Thhey are not home raising live stock to feed their families.
Ann Kerbs
9:41 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Your reality isn't everyone else's reality. Some of use don't commute daily to our jobs. Not everyone is an office worker. Not everyone is a 2 income family. Not everyone is a white collar worker. Some people enjoy gardening. Some people enjoy a simpler lifestyle. Some people like to raise chickens. Some people like dogs. Some people like cats. All of these people can happily co-exist in Downers Grove. Chickens have been raised in cities since the very first city. A few chickens doesn't mean that a feed lot is moving in next door. A 'metropolitan area' can include many things.
I am neither pro nor anti chickens. I am pro liberty. If a resident can raise a few chickens in a way that is sanitary and doesn't cause hardship for their neighbors, then why is that a problem? Just make sure the regs are based on best practices.
Carol P
12:25 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I'm not from Downers Grove either but I feel a family should be able to raise a few chickens. By few I mean at least 5. I have 10 hens right now and get lots of eggs that my family consumes but also my neighbors enjoy. A small coop with a few hens isn't going to make "Downers Grove" a less of a "metropolitan area". It's fine to ask everyone who wants to own chickens to have a permit or license. It's ok to revise the set back rules. My coop is 20ft from any property line. My coop design is looks just like my home. Same design, same color. My coop is cleaned out monthly and I have NO complaints from any neighbors. Yes Downers Grove has a majority of "professionals". I too am a "professional" but that doesn't define what I eat or how I get my food to feed my family. Chickens are not livestock, their poultry
Patrick Murphy
12:30 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Aw shucks, well me n miss Daisy Duke may just have to relocate.
wayne enerson
2:55 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The two women who received citations for illegal coops don't give a HOOT ( farm term ) about the laws. Chicken limit is 4 adults, one has 5, the other 6. Illegal coops, illegal chickens.
William Waldack
3:15 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
A couple things, first of all, the wealth of material calls for cleaning coops almost daily to avoid serious problems affecting health and safety and smell. That’s from the pro-chicken articles. Monthly? Yuck
The referenda was admittedly DOA, but worth trying. The cost is $0 – free, no charge.
Nothing educates an apathetic electorate like a referenda question. With a meeting Jan. 22 (all invited), articles, candidates taking the issue, the public should be educated by the April election.
I had to admit that I was internally laughing at dais comments about “governing by referenda.” Three council members present last night voted a few years ago to place two “duh” referenda questions on the ballot. They were nothing more than publicity stunts and the Village could do nothing about the issue. Call it inconsistency and/or expediency, neither make for good honest government IMHO.
Carol P
8:41 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Yes Wayne it can be done monthly. It's called deep litter method. In the summer it is cleaned out weekly, There no health issue if you keep you coop and surrounding area cleaned. My hens have full run of the yard a few days a week. I clean up after them as I would a dog. I have neighbors who love my eggs and the neighborhood childern love to come over and play with the "girls", I think the Village has more to worry about then the issue of chickens, I'm all for having it regulated. It's a shame that so many people in Downers are in such an uphevel over chickens.
DHD
9:17 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The rats will be eating well on all the chicken feed.
Ann Kerbs
9:29 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
And you base this statement on what? What can you cite as the source of your 'fact'? Let's base our regulations on best practices, not on uneducated 'gut' feelings or 'common sense' that's actually wrong.
DHD
9:57 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Ann why don't you Google "rats and chicken coops" I am not your personal search engine.
Carol P
10:31 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
If you store your chicken in the correct manner you will not have a problem. My feed is stored in metal containers with tight lids. I have never had a rat problem. Knowledge of chicken raising is the key.
DHD
10:42 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Oh yes I'm sure all the people living out their Green Acres fantasy are going to keep neat and hygienic little chicken coops. Are they pick up the feed on the ground that their livestock doesn't eat?
Ann Kerbs
10:45 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Why do I need to research your 'fact'? If you bring it up, you should support it, not just declare it to be universally true. Why should I believe you? It's called debate. Already someone has refuted your statement with their own best practices. BTW, couldn't the same be said for dog food left outside or in a garage? Why single out chickens?
Carol P
1:38 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
"Green Acres" fanasty? It has been a way of life since the beginning. BTW hens are poultry. Facts are facts
Maryanne Verde
9:47 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I recall reading about the "Block of 4" after the last Election and now I see what they meant. Commissioner Rheintgen wants to change the chicken laws. So she went and collected her 3 other votes to make sure she can help out all of her friends that have illegal chickens. What surpised me is the Mayor stepped in when Durkin stepped out of the chicken poop. Very sorry Village we will be living in once the "Block of 4" give Becky what she and her friends want...................
Ann Kerbs
10:48 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I don't personally know any of the council members or whether there is a 'block of 4' going on. I've heard the gossip before. Does that mean that everything they back or propose is necessarily a bad idea?
Carol P
10:51 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
It's a shame there is so much petty issues that the Village has to waste time on. Keep it at 4 chickens (which is enough eggs to feed the average family) 50ft set back is a little extreme so you they should change that. As for this Block of 4 I don't know the situation on them. I know tho that every town has one!
William Waldack
3:49 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
As for documentation, there is a great deal and easy to find. I have gone through hundreds of articles already. The pro-chicken articles are rather dismissive of health, smell, predators and pests, property values and other concerns. I find the articles that best support the anti-backyard chicken argument are the pro-chicken and “how to” articles. They admit to the rats, the predators, the smell, the cost of enforcement, effects on neighbors selling their homes, and , most importantly, health issues. Articles clearly show that just as you should take pains in the kitchen when handling poultry, the same danger exists with live poultry.
Ann Kerbs
4:50 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Then that sounds like some of the information that should be used by the committee to determine what the regulations should be. IMHO, it doesn't mean the idea should be dropped.
Just like anything else, owners should follow the rules. The 2 families that broke the current rules should receive the appropriate fine and get rid of the chickens. That doesn't mean that the rules shouldn't be reviewed to see if they are out of date. This all seems pretty straight forward to me. I don't understand why there is such hand wringing about reviewing the rules.
wayne enerson
4:58 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Fox Lake, Il voted down chicken coops yesterday. The backyard chicken issue is a FAD or TREND sweeping the United States.
Oh, how I long to return to the 1980s and the POTBELLIED PIG FAD.