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 鈥渃ertain animals,鈥� and permits up to 10 鈥渄omestic fowl, turkeys, geese, ducks or rabbits, or a combination thereof鈥︹�� on properties greater than .2 hectares (half an acre) but less than .4 ha (one acre).
The letter鈥檚 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.
鈥淭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 north鈥�,鈥� reads the letter. 鈥淲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.鈥�
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.
鈥淭he only mechanism I can think of is a site-by-site amendment to the bylaw,鈥� 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.
鈥淚 feel this could be part of that,鈥� said Wallace Richmond. 鈥淭he residents would be encouraged to share that want for the new OCP鈥︹��
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.
鈥淭o my mind, this is not right now but maybe later, and I wouldn鈥檛 be comfortable setting up a separate process鈥� knowing that there are two initiatives underway that may or may not address this in the medium-term future,鈥� said Wallace Richmond.
Coun. Kevin Flynn said he didn鈥檛 want to put any more work on the city鈥檚 planning department, and that he thinks 鈥渙ur bylaw is perfect the way it is.
鈥淚 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,鈥� said Flynn.
Lindgren said she鈥檚 comfortable waiting for a sweeping change that may or may not happen through the OCP process, 鈥渂ut I would also be comfortable with staff hearing requests from individual homeowners 鈥� this one in particular, where there are sort of extenuating circumstances. I mean, they live next to a chicken farm,鈥� said Lindgren. 鈥淲hen it makes sense like that, they would be OK to approach staff and ask for an exemption, and I鈥檇 like to know if there鈥檚 a process for that and if we need to go one site at a time.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 the first letter, this isn鈥檛 going to be the last letter. Food security will demand that this change.鈥�
Mayor Alan Harrison said he would share with the couple council鈥檚 suggestions that the OCP review and the creation of Food and Urban Agriculture Plan are avenues they can work through.
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