Greeley Colorado sees the light - sort of

[DIMBY]

Breaking News!

Greeley council to vote tonight on backyard chickens
GREELEY» After months of pecking around at the issue, Greeley might become the latest in a growing list of Colorado cities to allow residents to keep chickens in their backyards.
The Greeley City Council is expected to vote tonight on rules that would allow residents to keep six chickens in their backyards as long as the animals are kept in ventilated, covered coops. The birds would have to be fenced in at all times.
Selling chickens or eggs would be prohibited, as would roosters. Proponents of the measure, who petitioned for the changes last fall, say chickens are eco-friendly and provide a sustainable food source.
Opponents say the animals are dirty, attract unwelcome predators and don’t belong in the city.
Durango, Fort Collins and Longmont allow backyard chickens.
All are part of a wave of pro-chicken sentiment that has led such unlikely locales as New York, Seattle and San Francisco to allow the birds. The Associated Press

 

[b.hromada]

To your being able to have your chickens!!

 

[SunnyDawn]

Good Luck!!

 

[DIMBY]

Fortunately, I live in an unincorporated part of Western Colorado, 250 miles from Greeley, so this doesn't affect me - but I know others amongst the BYC brethren who are fighting their own cities over this, so I figured I'd let them know there is some hope!

 

[onthespot]

well, I'm guessing if I lived there I would have to barter then, maybe for little pictures of dead presidents on colorful cotton fibre based paper.

 

[onecent]

super!!! at least you've gotten to the voting part, I'm hoping all turns out in your favor!!!! keep us posted!!!

 

[theFox]

Quote:
+1

 

[highcountrychickens]

Oh, I read about this and hoped it was the positive result!! I think this is fantastic, and if they're smart enough to pass it, they'll lead the way for other forward thinking communities!

 

[alpinefarm]

Quote:
Greeley is such an agrarian community, it is hard to believe they have been so sloooow to do this. Maybe all the disgruntlement over the years, tho, over the cattle yards has made the community a little leery of doing something so novel as allowing a few chickens.

 

[DIMBY]

Well, Greeley says No Way! Unbelievable.

A relaxed backyard chicken ordinance got a split vote from the Greeley City Council Tuesday night, sending the proposal to the chopping block.

The decision surprised chicken supporters, who greatly outnumbered opponents in council chambers.

Of 19 who people spoke during a public hearing on the issue — which would have allowed up to six backyard hens so long as cleanliness, predator-proofing and distance-from-neighbors conditions were met — 13 favored the change. Additionally, about 15 people stood when Dixie Hart asked to see those who didn't want to take the podium but supported chickens.

Hart, who was part of an ad-hoc committee formed to study the issue, said after the vote, “Of course I'm very disappointed that (the council) would see that many citizens stand up in support … and that they didn't take that into consideration.”

Opponents cited public health and nuisance issues. Jessie Jacobs said people would likely irresponsibly toss dead chickens into the trash. Also, said Jacobs, “the odor is horrendous. The noise is awful.”

Barbara Rakowski said a neighbor's chickens were a nuisance.

“The flies and mosquitoes were terrible; the smell was terrible; and the chickens were in our yard,” she said. “I think we have enough diseases (around) without adding chickens to it.”

Complete story is here! http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100217/NEWS/100219684/1051&ParentProfile=1001