Petoskey's chicken policy up for referendum

Following the Petoskey City Council's recent approval of a zoning-ordinance change

allowing chickens in residential areas, a local resident has taken an initial step

toward putting the policy on the ballot for voters to accept or reject.

City clerk-treasurer Al Terry said Friday that Petoskey resident Timothy Strauss had

filed a notice of intent to petition for a referendum on the matter. With the filing

of this notice, Terry noted that the policy allowing for chickens will be delayed

from taking effect at least until March 25.

On Feb. 21, the city council voted 3-2 in favor of changing Petoskey's zoning

ordinance to allow for chickens to be kept — with restrictions — in single-family

residential areas, provided that a city permit is obtained. The policy would allow up

to four hens to be kept at a residence, but roosters would be prohibited.

A covered enclosure would need to be provided for chickens, with the birds required

to be kept in the covered enclosure or a fenced backyard area at all times. Chicken

feed and other items that potentially could be attractive to rats, mice or other

rodents would need to be protected against contact by those animals. Residents would

need to keep the chicken habitat in a clean and sanitary condition, free of offensive

odors, excess noise or other conditions that would be viewed as a nuisance.

A Michigan enabling law for local zoning specifies steps to be followed when a

referendum is sought on a zoning ordinance change. The minimum number of petition

signatures needed to qualify for the ballot is equivalent to 15 percent of the total

ballots cast in a given jurisdiction in the last Michigan gubernatorial election.

With 2,206 ballots cast in Petoskey for last November's gubernatorial vote, Terry

said 331 signatures of registered city voters would be needed to arrange the

referendum on the chicken policy.

To place the matter on the ballot, Terry said these signatures would need to be

submitted to city officials by March 25 — 30 days after the city published its legal

notice of the new ordinance.

If the city doesn't receive the necessary signatures by that date, Terry said the

ordinance would take effect immediately. If enough valid signatures are submitted for

a referendum, Terry said the new chicken policy would be delayed from taking effect

until voters decide its future in the next available regular election — in this

case, November's.

An ad placed in Friday's News-Review urged readers to "protect your property rights

and property values" and help in the repeal effort, and provided contact information

for those interested in signing a referendum petition.

Strauss declined to be interviewed about the referendum effort.

Farming for Our Future, a local education organization focused on farming and

gardening, has sought the ability to make chicken coops available for rental through

local schools, and the proposed zoning updates pertaining to chickens would allow for

this.

When she learned that initial steps had been taken toward a referendum on the new

chicken policy, Farming for Our Future executive director Toril Fisher said, "my

first reaction, to be honest with you, is, I was amazed and saddened."

At the same time, Fisher said she respects the democratic process involved in the

referendum effort.

Prior to the city council's vote on the new chicken policy, supporters of that change

circulated petitions locally, with more than 90 people expressing their support in

writing and online for allowing the backyard coops.

"It was really evident to me that people who have had exposure to hens or chickens

all have supported the ordinance change," Fisher said.

"It's obvious and evident to us that we need to continue to educate our community on

the benefits of having urban pens," she said, noting that the opportunity to produce

one's own food can be a part of sustainable living.

Fisher said the educational efforts wouldn't be intended to divide the community over

the chicken issue. As one educational step, supporters are looking into the

possibility of screening a documentary film, "Mad City Chickens," locally.

"Maybe people on both sides of the fence, pun intended, will come and learn more and

discuss it," Fisher said.

Noting the permitting requirement, the limit on the number of chickens at a home and

other restrictions, Fisher doesn't expect that some of the worries voiced about

chicken coops would materialize if they're allowed.

"If you're looking at a coop that has four hens in it, you're hardly going to know

its there," she said.