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 含羞草研究社渃ertain animals,含羞草研究社� and permits up to 10 含羞草研究社渄omestic fowl, turkeys, geese, ducks or rabbits, or a combination thereof含羞草研究社卟菅芯可鐫 on properties greater than .2 hectares (half an acre) but less than .4 ha (one acre).
The letter含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淭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含羞草研究社�,含羞草研究社� reads the letter. 含羞草研究社淲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.含羞草研究社�
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.
含羞草研究社淭he only mechanism I can think of is a site-by-site amendment to the bylaw,含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淚 feel this could be part of that,含羞草研究社� said Wallace Richmond. 含羞草研究社淭he residents would be encouraged to share that want for the new OCP含羞草研究社卟菅芯可鐫
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.
含羞草研究社淭o my mind, this is not right now but maybe later, and I wouldn含羞草研究社檛 be comfortable setting up a separate process含羞草研究社� knowing that there are two initiatives underway that may or may not address this in the medium-term future,含羞草研究社� said Wallace Richmond.
Coun. Kevin Flynn said he didn含羞草研究社檛 want to put any more work on the city含羞草研究社檚 planning department, and that he thinks 含羞草研究社渙ur bylaw is perfect the way it is.
含羞草研究社淚 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,含羞草研究社� said Flynn.
Lindgren said she含羞草研究社檚 comfortable waiting for a sweeping change that may or may not happen through the OCP process, 含羞草研究社渂ut I would also be comfortable with staff hearing requests from individual homeowners 含羞草研究社� this one in particular, where there are sort of extenuating circumstances. I mean, they live next to a chicken farm,含羞草研究社� said Lindgren. 含羞草研究社淲hen it makes sense like that, they would be OK to approach staff and ask for an exemption, and I含羞草研究社檇 like to know if there含羞草研究社檚 a process for that and if we need to go one site at a time.
含羞草研究社淭his isn含羞草研究社檛 the first letter, this isn含羞草研究社檛 going to be the last letter. Food security will demand that this change.含羞草研究社�
Mayor Alan Harrison said he would share with the couple council含羞草研究社檚 suggestions that the OCP review and the creation of Food and Urban Agriculture Plan are avenues they can work through.
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