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 91裸聊视频渃ertain animals,91裸聊视频� and permits up to 10 91裸聊视频渄omestic fowl, turkeys, geese, ducks or rabbits, or a combination thereof91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� on properties greater than .2 hectares (half an acre) but less than .4 ha (one acre).
The letter91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淭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 north91裸聊视频�,91裸聊视频� reads the letter. 91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淭he only mechanism I can think of is a site-by-site amendment to the bylaw,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淚 feel this could be part of that,91裸聊视频� said Wallace Richmond. 91裸聊视频淭he residents would be encouraged to share that want for the new OCP91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淭o my mind, this is not right now but maybe later, and I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be comfortable setting up a separate process91裸聊视频� knowing that there are two initiatives underway that may or may not address this in the medium-term future,91裸聊视频� said Wallace Richmond.
Coun. Kevin Flynn said he didn91裸聊视频檛 want to put any more work on the city91裸聊视频檚 planning department, and that he thinks 91裸聊视频渙ur bylaw is perfect the way it is.
91裸聊视频淚 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,91裸聊视频� said Flynn.
Lindgren said she91裸聊视频檚 comfortable waiting for a sweeping change that may or may not happen through the OCP process, 91裸聊视频渂ut I would also be comfortable with staff hearing requests from individual homeowners 91裸聊视频� this one in particular, where there are sort of extenuating circumstances. I mean, they live next to a chicken farm,91裸聊视频� said Lindgren. 91裸聊视频淲hen it makes sense like that, they would be OK to approach staff and ask for an exemption, and I91裸聊视频檇 like to know if there91裸聊视频檚 a process for that and if we need to go one site at a time.
91裸聊视频淭his isn91裸聊视频檛 the first letter, this isn91裸聊视频檛 going to be the last letter. Food security will demand that this change.91裸聊视频�
Mayor Alan Harrison said he would share with the couple council91裸聊视频檚 suggestions that the OCP review and the creation of Food and Urban Agriculture Plan are avenues they can work through.
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