Backyard chickens recommended for approval in Lyndonville by Planning Board

LYNDONVILLE – The Village Planning Board, after several months of discussion, today recommend to the Village Board that Lyndonville update its zoning ordinance to allow residents to have up to six chickens, but no roosters.

Residents will need to get a permit (a one-time fee of $25), and the chickens are restricted to the rear or backyard of any residential zoning district. Chicken owners will need to submit photos of the cages or coops where the chickens are housed. The cages shall not exceed 32 square feet or be taller than 7 feet.

The cages or coops need to be at least 30 feet from any door or window of a dwelling, school, church or other occupied structure other than the applicant’s dwelling.

The coops or cages also need to be at 5 feet from a side yard property line and more than 18 inches from a rear lot line. No chickens shall be kept in a front yard or side street yard areas, according to the draft ordinance.

An earlier proposal for the ordinance called for residents to have consent of neighbors within 50 feet of the property, but that was scrapped at this afternoon’s meeting of the Planning Board.

Board member Justin Edwards said he supported the ordinance, but didn’t think neighbor approval should be required.

“You don’t have a say if your neighbor gets a dog or puts up a fence,” he said. “I think it sets a very bad precedent (to require neighbor approval for chickens).”

Planning Board Chairman Steve Vann said he wanted to reach a compromise in the ordinance that could be submitted to the Village Board for its consideration. The Village Board asks the Planning Board to recommend a draft ordinance for the village trustees and mayor to review.

Edwards said he couldn’t support a proposal with the neighbor consent required. Board member Virginia Hughes agreed.

The proposed ordinance passed 4-1, with member Terry Chaffee casting the lone opposing vote. He said chickens shouldn’t be allowed in the village.

Village code enforcement officer David Reese said he is concerned neighbors will be upset if the chickens prove to be noisy and smelly.

“We have close quarters in the village,” he said.

The proposed ordinance requires the coops and cages be kept “in a clean, dry and sanitary condition at all times.”

Despite removing the requirement for neighbor approval, the proposed ordinance was called “extremely strict” by Kate Hardner, who has led the effort to have chickens be allowed in Orleans County villages.

“I would not call this loose by any means,” Hardner said during today’s meeting.

Vann said some restrictions are needed for having chickens in the village.

“The neighbors are living with your chickens, too,” he said. “The goal was to find common ground to make it allowable.”

The issue now goes to the Village Board, which next meets 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 30 for a workshop and then 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 for a regular board meeting.