City council had no appetite to consider a bylaw exemption to allow a Salmon Arm couple to have a few chickens in their backyard.
At its Feb. 12 meeting, council received a letter from a resident who had spoken with city staff to see if it was possible to get an exemption to Bylaw 2398, which regulates the keeping of 害羞草研究所渃ertain animals,害羞草研究所� and permits up to 10 害羞草研究所渄omestic fowl, turkeys, geese, ducks or rabbits, or a combination thereof害羞草研究所π卟菅芯克鶟 on properties greater than .2 hectares (half an acre) but less than .4 ha (one acre).
The letter害羞草研究所檚 writer said he and his spouse were directed to reach out to city council about an exemption, as their property is .321 acres. He explained their property is bordered on two sides by lots larger than an acre, while the acreage directly behind their property has chickens.
害羞草研究所淭he chicken coup would be located on the rear of our property by the acreage that currently has chickens, and would not be visible from the street or our neighbour to the north害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� reads the letter. 害羞草研究所淲e believe the chickens would have a positive impact on our property as they assist in fertilizing our garden space, consume most of our food and plant scraps and act as a form of pest control.害羞草研究所�
Coun. Sylvia Lindgren said this has come up a number of times and asked if there was a way for homeowners to apply for a bylaw exemption. Director of planning and community services Gary Buxton said he was no not aware of anything in the bylaw that provides for a process to pursue exceptions.
害羞草研究所淭he only mechanism I can think of is a site-by-site amendment to the bylaw,害羞草研究所� said Buxton.
Lindgren then asked about possibly amending the bylaw to include a more efficient process.
Coun Louise Wallace Richmond, however, noted the city is in the process of updating its official community plan.
害羞草研究所淚 feel this could be part of that,害羞草研究所� said Wallace Richmond. 害羞草研究所淭he residents would be encouraged to share that want for the new OCP害羞草研究所π卟菅芯克鶟
Wallace Richmond also pointed out that council recently directed staff to begin work that would lead to the creation of a Food and Urban Agriculture Plan, with a focus on food security.
害羞草研究所淭o my mind, this is not right now but maybe later, and I wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be comfortable setting up a separate process害羞草研究所� knowing that there are two initiatives underway that may or may not address this in the medium-term future,害羞草研究所� said Wallace Richmond.
Coun. Kevin Flynn said he didn害羞草研究所檛 want to put any more work on the city害羞草研究所檚 planning department, and that he thinks 害羞草研究所渙ur bylaw is perfect the way it is.
害羞草研究所淚 will wait until the community provides their input, but I have no desire to set up a committee or handle this prematurely because of a letter,害羞草研究所� said Flynn.
Lindgren said she害羞草研究所檚 comfortable waiting for a sweeping change that may or may not happen through the OCP process, 害羞草研究所渂ut I would also be comfortable with staff hearing requests from individual homeowners 害羞草研究所� this one in particular, where there are sort of extenuating circumstances. I mean, they live next to a chicken farm,害羞草研究所� said Lindgren. 害羞草研究所淲hen it makes sense like that, they would be OK to approach staff and ask for an exemption, and I害羞草研究所檇 like to know if there害羞草研究所檚 a process for that and if we need to go one site at a time.
害羞草研究所淭his isn害羞草研究所檛 the first letter, this isn害羞草研究所檛 going to be the last letter. Food security will demand that this change.害羞草研究所�
Mayor Alan Harrison said he would share with the couple council害羞草研究所檚 suggestions that the OCP review and the creation of Food and Urban Agriculture Plan are avenues they can work through.
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