Variance for chickens needed in Danvers, Massachusetts

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Boozemonkey

Boozemonkey

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I need some help from people with experience filing for variances. I thought when I moved into Danvers they allowed people to keep and raise poultry(no roosters). I come to find out yesterday after research that my residential zone does not allow chickens. The people literally across the street can have them, I cant. I am the only one on my street.
Have any of you out there had success filing for variances? Care to share some insight in to how to approach it correctly? Any one I could get in touch with that might be able to help me?
 
You can go to the city hall and council and ask for a special permit. And then go before the city council and plead your case. But go well armed with packets to give to EVERY member of the council. And dont be surprised if they decide to drag out any decision. And be well prepared for a no.

I have a flock of 7 in my backyard in Fitchburg MA and have them illegally. Last April someone on the other side of the city tried to get chickens legally and brought it to the board, and was seriously unprepared. The amount of misinformation flying around the council was frustrating. So I stood up and outed myself and my girls. Made the newspaper, again over my animals. :) The city council eventually shot down anyone within city limits having chickens. That said. No one bothers me about mine. And I dont go out of my way o hide them. The ACO knows I have them. I got in a verbal argument with her over them being "pets" not livestock. :) I had brought them into the mudroom after the ice storm we had . A tree limb fell on the coop and made it unsafe for them to be in. But the city council and police know and they leave me alone. Someone on the next street has a small flock. And another neighbor has racing pigeons and doves. IMHO no different from chickens. And atleast I can eat the eggs I get!

I keep my coop clean. As odor free as I can. I have no roos. I dont complain about the neighbors doing stupid stuff. Or their dogs barking etc. And my neighborhood is small and tight. We ALL know everyone and thing.
 
I'm here in Danvers and have the same problem as yourself- the other side of the street is zoned for animal husbandry and my side is not.
I got a certified letter from the zoning board giving me 30 days to become compliant or risk a $75. fine for each day of non compliance.
Bottom line - my ducks and bunnies are gone to new homes and Endicott park took the hens.
Billy Clark of Clark farm is on our side, and the zonIng guy was sympathetic to having everybody treated equally in raising poultry, but his hands are tied, and he is required to enforce existing zoning laws until the town meeting agrees to change them.
Danvers is a right to farm town, but zoning restrictions limit our rights at this time.
I could have disputed the violation but the cost of just paying for the required notices and advertising in the newspaper was more costly than my animals were worth.
My advise is to see Billy Clark, Chairman of our board of Selectmen- at Clark farm - he is willing to help you and support any challenges to the current zoning, and I believe he is working with another chicken owner at the present time - just not me... and good luck with your challenge.
If you win, we all win.
 
Correct. There is NO variance for chickens in Danvers on properties under 20,000 sq ft. The time to have successfully opposed this was 2012 when zoning changed.
 

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