5.5 PCSR 04-25-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Request for Action To Item Number Planning Commission 6.8 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by Public HearingsMarch 28, 2017BrieAnna Simon, Planner Item Description Reviewed by City of Elk River Ordinance Amendment Chris Leeseberg, Senior Planner Ordinance amendment to expand opportunities Reviewed by for the keeping of chickens in residential areas, Zack Carlton, Planning Manager Case No. OA 17-03 Action Requested Recommend, by motion, approval of the Ordinance Amendment as proposed. Why is this amendment being proposed? Every year staff receives numerous calls asking if chickens are permitted within the urban specifically on lot sizes less than five acres in size. The ordinance currently requires five acres of land and a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for lots within the urban service urban service district, chickens are permitted on properties less than five acres in size with a Conditional Use Permit. If the a property is greater than five acres in size chickens are permitted and the number of chickens can be doubled within the City of Elk River, if the property lot size and required per permitted to have 0.01 animal units per one acres of fenced past fenced pasture land. Staff brought this information to the City Council during a work session to discuss ordinance, and staff was directed to look into a possible amendm vey are described below, but there is support for allowing chickens on properties of all What is the public benefit? Based on the support shown in the survey, a majority of resident chickens expanded to smaller lots, specifically those below 2.5 district. Additionally, the survey asked questions on the number of chickens to allow, specific regulations on the keeping of chickens, and permitting requirements. This survey was open to everyone, not just residents of Elk River. After eliminating duplicates, the survey6 responses with 70 percent of those surveyed in favor of permitting chickens on smaller lotOf the survey participants 89 percent lived in the City of Elk River, of which 71 percent said on smaller lot sizes. The proposed amendment expands opportunities for the keeping of chickens intended to reduce impacts to neighboring properties.