City Council Continues Chicken Debate

Chickens have a second chance in Santee after the City Council on Wednesday night decided to further consider an amendment to Santee’s zoning ordinance to allow chicken coops in residential zones.

The council voted 4-0 with Councilman John Ryan absent from the meeting. At the June 8 meeting, the council voted 2-2 against researching the idea of changing zoning laws.

Councilman Jack Dale, who decided to bring back the topic of keeping chickens within the city limits, said he has had a change of heart since voting to keep chickens out.

Dale explained he changed his opinion after owning his own chickens. He said he was given two chickens, although one recently "flew the coop."

“I haven’t experienced anything so far in my chicken experience that is anything different from any of the other animals that we have in town here, and so that’s why I brought it back for consideration,” Dale said. “My chicken experience has been good.”

Four residents spoke before the council in favor of chickens in Santee, and four residents argued against chickens. Five more people submitted slips in support of chickens but did not speak.

Opponents argued that chickens create noise, smell and real estate issues.

“The city leaders and the citizens have worked hard to remove this city from this failed type of a hick town,” Santee resident Patrick Bunch said. “I think this is three steps back. For me, it’s a quality of life issue.”

Speakers in favor argued dogs are louder, and smell is not a problem if the coop is properly cleaned. One speaker noted that some people do not clean up after more common household animals.

“There’s tons of families in Santee who own dogs and cats, and there’s dog droppings all over the yards—more of a problem than a backyard chicken coop, especially if people are willing to keep them clean,” she said.

Santee resident Ken Stuart said his neighbors enjoy his chickens.

“All our neighbors do love chickens,” Stuart said. “They love the eggs we give them. They love baking with them because they’re so much more fresh. They enjoy them.”

A couple of Stuart’s neighbors disagreed, however.

“I think, fine, if you want to have chickens fine, but one chicken is one chicken,” said a neighbor. “I don’t know how many he has, but they keep going all day long and it’s just ridiculous. I’m sorry, but I have a right to peace and quiet.”

Another neighbor added: “I like goat cheese. I think if you’re going to have the staff look into this, you might as well cover every animal because if I can get a recipe for goat cheese, I can have a goat in my backyard.”

Councilman John Minto, who was absent when the council voted in June, said he would have voted against it then but wants more information now.

“My position on this is I really would like to see our staff look at the ordinances and see what we can do,” he said.

Councilman Rob McNelis, who had previously voted for more information in June, said he also would like more information.

“I don’t want to go backwards and go back to being a rural community, but by the same token, we have to be fair to our citizens’ needs, wants and concerns,” McNelis said. “I’m all open, all ears to listen to what you guys have to say, but I haven’t made a decision one way or another at all.”

Mayor Randy Voepel, who brought the issue to the council in June, made it known that “tonight is not to decide whether we allow chickens or not, it’s to simply research it out.”

To further emphasize that the chicken debate is not yet finished, McNelis added: “We’re studying away. We’re not saying go out and buy a bunch of chickens tomorrow.”