(Courtesy photo by Alexas Fotos from Pexels)
The Winfield Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to receive community input regarding the keeping of chickens in within the city limits, according to Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall Wednesday.
The meeting will be held in the Community Council Room at City Hall.
Earlier this summer, the Winfield City Commission received a request from a local citizen to adjust the current regulations regarding the keeping of chickens, Wall said in a news release.
Currently, city ordinance allows one chicken that may be kept for exhibit in 4-H or the county free fair. Due to the potential effects on land use within the city limits, the matter will be considered by the Planning Commission for review and an advisory recommendation.
Before making a recommendation, the Planning Commission would like to engage the community for input, Wall said.
The topic of backyard chickens often prompts opinions on both sides of the matter and involves the consideration of public health and safety agencies including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
In some cases, communities do not allow backyard chickens to be kept at all and in others they are allowed with certain restrictions.
Considerations on the topic include: number of chickens allowed, permitting, keeping of roosters, distance to property lines, enclosure requirements, sanitation and nuisance requirements, slaughtering, neighborhood permissions
City staff has completed a review of the topic, including a survey of other communities, which can be found on the City website at: www.winfieldks.org.
Those unable to attend may email Eryn Ebach, community development coordinator/planner, at eebach@winfieldks.org . Communication received prior to the meeting will be provided to the Planning Commission for review.
The keeping of “backyard chickens” has risen in popularity with the increasing demand for organic and sustainably sourced foods, the City says.
In response, many cities have revisited their prohibitions of chickens in residential zones.
“This matter tends to elicit strong opinions on both sides, and while most cities have some local ordinance regarding livestock and fowl, no two regulations are the same,” the news release stated.
More info about the public hearing and current City regulations on the topic can be read here.
