HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence
It was recently brought to my attention that a citizen of Cannel had erected a chicken
coop and purchased chickens without checking frrst to see ifthis was allowed within the
City of Cannel. A call was then placed to city offices by a concerned resident to check on
this, and he was told that farm animals were absolutely not allowed according to city
ordinances.
The purchaser then filed for a variance to the ordinance, requesting the right to have
"three chickens." This was put on the agenda for the meeting scheduled for October 22od.
Then, at the purchaser's request, this was tabled and rescheduled for the council meeting
on November 261h. In the interim, this individual is breaking the law 'by having chickens
(farm animals) within city limits.
If this variance is approved, then anyone within the city of Carmel will have the right to
own farm animals. If this resident is allowed to own "three chickens," then any citizen
within the city of Carmel will claim the ability to own "three chickens" as welL And who
is going to monitor this ownership? If an ordinance regarding this issue is passed, will it
also include firm directions on maintaining a checks and balances system on farm animal
ownership?
In the meantime, as long as the purchaser of the chickens in question can submit a request
to table this variance to the ordinance, he is able to keep the chickens on his property.
This is really the same as any resident purchase a cow, a pig, ducks, etc, and then filing
for a variance. The ability to keep the animal in a residential area would ,not be
challenged as long as a decision is not made.
A change in the ordinance should have been requested BEFORE the chickens were
bought; it is not an issue that should have been looked at after the fact. Furthermore, the
chickens should not be allowed to stay on the property while approval is being sought. If
this variance to the ordinance is approved, it will present a very slippery slope for the
City of Carmel. Where will the line be drawn?
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