Fw: Chicken Ordinance

[Chatham Chatlist]

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: John R Dykers <johndy...@dykers.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 11:07 AM
Subject: Fw: Chicken Ordinance

Thought the Chatlist would be encouraged to learn that we are not the only ones dealing with the interface between pets, people and agriculture. The following bounced to me via a long time friend in Jacksonville, Florida where I grew up untill I went off to college. I deleted over 500 email addresses. Our Chatham conflicts are similar reflections of our backgrounds and biases.

John Dykers

Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 10:16 AM

Subject: Re: Chicken Ordinance

Please remove my email address from this chain. I do not wish to be a part of your personal debate. 

The voters will decide what WE think is appropriate.

Thank you, 

Cheryl Nicholas

Sent: Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:09 am
Subject: Re: Chicken Ordinance

Chickens are farm animals and as such belong in the 32% of Duval County that is already zoned for them, not in residential areas.

Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 9:33 AM

Subject: RE: Chicken Ordinance

Mr. Benolken,

 

Unfortunately, your assertions are not based on facts. This is certainly not a comprehensive list, but all of these cities currently allow chickens: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Honolulu, Mobile, Pittsburg, Portland, Orlando, San Francisco, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Miami, and Tallahassee. In fact, according to a 2009 Newsweek article, more than 65% of major U.S. cities now have chicken-keeping ordinances, and that number has only continued to grow since the article was published.

 

My wife has been actively involved in the effort to legalize chickens in Jacksonville, and as a result, I have learned quite a bit about this subject. I have been extremely impressed with the amount of research and due diligence conducted by these advocates, who have even reached out to folks with the state Department of Health and numeorus County Commissioners throughout the state where chickens have been legalized. I have been surprised myself to find out that just about evey common misconception about urban hens is for the most part unfounded and unsubstantiated. There is really no evidence to suggest that hens present any significant problems for local communities or adjacent landowners.

 

From my perspective, this really is a no brainer that many other communities have already recognized and implemented without a problem.   Just like owners of dogs, cats, and other pets, homeowners should have the right to own chickens, as long as they are responsible and do not infringe upon the rights of others. The way this ordinance is crafted it would be the most stringent in the state, requiring prospective hen owners to take a chicken keeping class from the Duval Couny Ag Extension before receiving a permit among other regulatory requirements.

I am obviously speaking as a concerned citizen and taxpayer and not as a representative of Riverkeeper, since this is not one of our issues. I just think that it is extremely important, as with all issues before our Mayor and Council, that the facts are presented and understood and misconceptions and unfounded fears don't rule the day.

 

Respectfully,

Jimmy Orth

 

As a long time resident of Jacksonville for the past 70 years this chicken ordinance is one of the worst plans ever proposed by the City. 

 

I doubt if any major city in the United States allows for chickens in residential areas PERIOD.  Jacksonville will be the laughing stock of the country if it ever gets out if we allow this to happen. 

 

Please consider your veto to kill this bird quickly. 

 

C. Ross Benolken

9833 Bradley Road

Jacksonville, Florida 32246