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ESCANABA -- A matter that was postponed from last month's Escanaba Planning Commission meeting will again be on the table on Thursday, Nov. 9, when the commission meets at 6 p.m. in room C101 of City Hall at 410 Ludington Street. Prior to the discussion of new business, another public hearing on the proposed zoning amendment to potentially allow city residents to keep chickens and ducks within city limits will allow citizens to voice their concerns. Further amendments have been made, and those who wish to speak are asked to familiarize themselves with the issue before taking the stand.
Last month, commissioners had suggested that Escanaba Planning and Zoning Administrator Tyler Anthony confer with counterparts in close communities before moving forward. A report in the agenda packet released Wednesday confirmed that the cities of Marquette and Ishpeming were contacted, as was Michigan State University Extension.
Ishpeming's ordinance to allow "no more than six (6) hens … for each single-family dwelling" was adopted in February of 2019.
"To date, Ishpeming has issued only 10-12 permits in total. All the issues on this front are overshadowed by other agricultural zoning problems in their City," reads Escanaba's Planning Commission agenda report, mentioning that the separate keeping of chickens and roosters has been difficult. Escanaba's proposed ordinance would also allow only hens, not roosters.
Marquette's land development code underwent a complete overhaul in 2019. Presently, in the City of Marquette, residents in Low-Density Residential (LDR) Districts and Mixed-Density Residential (MDR) Districts may apply for a permit to possess hens, rabbits, or honeybees.
"We haven't had any nuisance complaints with those that we've approved," said staff at the Community Development Department for the City of Marquette, citing the code as being well-written in such a way that protected neighbors.
In Escanaba, the commission listened to input from both sides of the debate last month. Arguments against allowing chickens in residential Escanaba City were based on noise, smell, wild animals that may be attracted to chicken coops, and sanitation.
New additions to the ordinance amendment include such verbiage as:
– "Enclosures shall be cleaned at least once every seven days."
– "Offensive odors shall not be detectable beyond the property line."
– "Stockpiling of more than 14 days of waste materials accumulation on the property is prohibited."
– "Livestock enclosures shall not be contained within, or attached to, a dwelling, or a garage attached to a dwelling."
– In addition to enclosures of no less than 4 square feet per animal, egg-laying chickens require runs of at least 44 square feet per animal; for meat-bearing chickens, 22 square feet.
– The property's primary use must be that of a single-family dwelling, a two-family dwelling, a primary school or a secondary school.
Anthony said that someone from Michigan State University Extension is expected to make an appearance at Thursday's meeting to weigh in on the matter and share materials with the planning commission.
Members of the public who wish to address the commission at city hall on Thursday will be asked to state their name and address for the record. Each person may be given three minutes to speak their piece.