Will we even get a vote?

Updated 2/19 with new date and time:
The Law and Finance Committee will present their recommendation on whether or not to move forward with the revised chicken ordinance at the next Town Council meeting Tuesday 2/23 at 6PM. If they move forward, there will be a public comment session scheduled, and then a vote by the town council. If not, this will be considered dead without a final vote.

Although the opposition was allowed to speak at the last meeting, the public will not be allowed to speak at this one. Sorry to all those that have asked me when your chance to speak will be. Hopefully this will move forward and there will be a public comment session.

More coverage

Opinion piece in the Garner Clayton Record
http://www.garnerclayton.com/opinion/story/2584.html

Good synopsis in a Sustainable Living Blog based out of Pittsboro, NC
http://sustainablegrub.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/urban-chicks-ii/

Infromational Packet

Link to Informational Packet given to the Mayor and Town Council Members. Note - due to size, it is split into two sections.

Section I - Why We Want Chickens
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Accn6G_ikOGuZGRkdnNrdHdfMTU0ZG1idDZmZHQ&hl=en

Section II - Myths and Issues Dispelled, Supporting Documentation
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Accn6G_ikOGuZGRkdnNrdHdfMTM3ZzZ6NGZ0Z24&hl=en

Want to know why we want hens and what the concerns are?

Here is the initial presentation to Garner Town Council and the research document.

The Latest! But not the Greatest.

General Restrictions

- Hens allowed in residential areas (HOA restrictive covenants would not be affected)
- No roosters (males)
- Hens are to be pets and not used for commercial activity; no selling chickens or eggs would be allowed.
- All coops and runs must be located in the rear yard and not be located in the side, front, or corner side yards.
- Up to 10 hens are allowed per lot, regardless of the size of the lot and the number of dwelling units on that lot.
- A coop is required to shelter the hens. An outdoor run is optional.
- The floor area of the coop shall be at least 4 square feet per chicken when an outdoor run is provided. If no outdoor run is provided, and the chickens are enclosed all the time, at least 10 square feet of floor area per chicken is required.
- If provided, the run must be at least 10 square feet of floor area per chicken.

Coops and Runs with no screening (attachment C)

- The setback for all coops and runs is 15 feet from any rear lot line. The setback from any side or corner-side lot line is the same as that of the dwelling unit on that lot.
- A total of 144 square feet of footprint area is allowed for the coop and run.
- Hen coops and shelters, including any surrounding cages and runs are limited to 6 feet tall from the ground to the top of the structure including supporting blocks, poles, or legs.

Coops and Runs with screening (attachement D)

This applies to yards that are enclosed with a solid 6-foot fence
- No setback is required as long as all structures and enclosures are located in the rear yard, and the top of any structure, run, or coop does not exceed 6 feet.
- For every foot a structure, coop, pen, or run exceeds 6 feet, the setback is 2 feet. Up to 10 feet in height is the maximum.
- A total of 400 square feet of footprint area is allowed for the coop and run.

Maintenance

- All runs, coops, and pens must be kept clean on a regular basis so as not to create any public health hazard or nuisance issue such as offensive odors to adjoining properties.

Permits & Enforcement

- A one-time Zoning Compliance Permit from the Planning Department would be required ($25). If a fence permit (for screening) is applied for at the same time, there would be one fee.

Town of Garner Documents

These are public record and available for you to look at here. They are original with no changes.

1/6/10 Memo from Town Attorney regarding restrictive covenants and his advice against 1) Requiring HOA permission for chicken permit, and 2) Neighbor consent prior to chicken permit.
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dddvsktw_107cmc96cht

1/5/10 Memo from Planning Dept with suggested standards, if the town council decides to go forward with changes to the existing ordinance.
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dddvsktw_109hpck2xf9

Letter from Animal Sanctuary against keeping chickens, brought to the committee meeting by Council member Kathy Behringer.
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8cn6G_ikOGuYWY5ZmNmZjItZDJkZi00NTFjLTlkYmItMmY0NWQ1NTEwMWJj&hl=en

11/4/09 Memo from Planning Dept with research and recommendations.
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dddvsktw_1103r8gr8fj

N&O article

The N&O reprinted the article from the Garner Clayton Record in today's paper on page 3B. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/counties/wake_county/story/278134.html#

Garner Clayton Record article

This article came out today. I'd prefer my garden and compost wasn't on the front page, but at least the hens are pretty.

http://www.garnerclayton.com/home/story/2376.html

Friends of Hens t-shirts

Pre-order a Friends of Hens t-shirt to wear around town and to the Town of Garner Public Comment Session. (Pictured here on girl eating chocolate cake batter - chocolate cake not included with tshirt order)

-- Mens, Womens, Childrens, and Toddler sizes in LOTS of colors
-- Locally printed here in Garner
-- $10 each or 2 for $15 or 3 for $21
-- Canvas shopping bags also available

Available colors here: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dddvsktw_44dgqnjctg
email me your order and contact information: kristenwarren@gmail.com

Town of Garner went on a Coop Tour

One Council member, members of the planning department and staff, and a member of the Greenbrier HOA board went on an informal coop tour in downtown Raleigh on Monday, December 14. The purpose of the tour was to investigate setbacks and see some examples of coops. [picture shows a coop 2-3 blocks from the Governor's Mansion at a historic home in Raleigh]

Items for the new ordinance!

Ok here's your sneak peek at the items being considered for the new Garner chicken ordinance:

These are very likely:
- up to 10 hens (no roosters)
- only allowed in side and back yards
- personal use only - non-commercial

Possible additions:
- special permit similar to dog permit which is a one-time $25 permit
- coops to follow setback restrictions (10 ft side and 5ft rear), and limited to 8-10 ft tall
- not allowed in multi-family and attached unit dwellings [This item would not be necessary if the setbacks were in place]

Additions requested by the Greenbrier HOA and not supported by Friends of Hens:
- 100% screening from neighbors with solid wood fencing around hens and/or shrubs
- Special permit only given after Garner citizen provided written permission from their property's HOA Organization

Progress!

The two members of the Garner Law and Finance committee will draft a new ordinance December 3rd. Then there will be a public comment period and an official vote. We hope to have this passed in time to get baby chicks in the spring!

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