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The Elk River Vision <br />A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community <br />engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity <br /> <br />Request for Action <br /> <br />To <br />City Council <br />Item Number <br />8.1 <br /> <br />Meeting Date <br />June 2, 2025 <br />Prepared By <br />Chris Leeseberg, Senior Planner <br /> <br />Item Description <br />The Keeping of Chickens on City Lots <br />Reviewed by <br />Zack Carlton <br />Cal Portner <br />Tina Allard <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Provide direction to staff on whether to proceed with an ordinance amendment to reduce the minimum lot <br />size required for keeping chickens. <br /> <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />The Council directed staff to review the chicken standards of our neighboring communities. Staff contacted 10 <br />neighboring communities regarding their standards, and the results are included in the attached table. <br /> <br />In 2017, the city drafted an ordinance to expand opportunities for the keeping of chickens on residential <br />parcels, and in 2021, after receiving requests to allow chickens on lots less than 2 ½ acres in size, the Planning <br />Commission and the City Council again reviewed the ordinance. At that time, the number of chickens allowed <br />under the proposed ordinance reviewed was as follows: <br /> <br />Lot Size in <br />acres <br />Chickens (roosters may be allowed <br />with a CUP) <br />1 < 2 ½ 6 <br />2 ½ < 5 12 <br />5 and larger Follow ag animal regulations - Section <br />30-803 (e) <br /> <br />The Planning Commission recommended denial of the request by a 5-2 vote, and the City Council also denied <br />the request by a 4-1 vote. <br /> <br />Reasons in favor: <br />▪ Homeowner associations or covenants that already prevent residents from keeping agricultural <br />animals. <br />Page 77 of 247