SCIO township Michigan *** Let's change the Ordinance!***

[Paully37]

Hello If you are a resident of Scio township Mi and love chickens. Please help me try to get the ordinance changed. I am going to put together a proposal, start a petition and go to meetings. I would love to find some other chicken lovers to at least attend the meetings (planning commision and trustees) with me. Please PM me if you are in the area

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Hi there. I'm not from your township, but i thought it might be a good idea to post on the Michigan thread, too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/233/michigan

Do you have folks associated with the University in your township? I wonder if you could get someone in the U of M vet school on your side?

Good luck.

 

[groundcovernews]

I write for Groundcover News. We are a street paper in Ann Arbor. I'm working on a story about backyard chickens for our May issue, which will revolve around food, primarily local. Can you help fill me in on what's going on in Scio Township?

c.lee(at)groundcovernews(dot)com

 

[wingless]

The Michigan Right to Farm Act thread may also be of interest:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...o-farm-law-what-does-it-mean/530#post_8827036

 

[Paully37]

Groundcovernews I sent you an e-mail. Please contact me if you have any questions! Thanks for writing on this topic!
To update this thread here is the situation in scio and what I have done so far to get a new ordinance passed:

In Scio, people are not allowed to have chickens in any residential area regardless of acreage. In agricultural zones 2.5 acres are needed for 10 chickens. Our planning commission considered a bill to allow to backyard chickens last year but tabled it due to lack of information. I went to a meeting on monday and petitioned the committee to schedule a hearing so that we could get a backyard chicken ordinance passed. When I attended this meeting I gave members of the committee packets of information with examples of other passed ordinances as well as studies that have found the pro-chicken ordinances to have a positive impact. I received a very favorable response from two committee members in particular: Allison Arscott and Celeste Novak. When the schedule the hearing it is imperative that we get as many pro-backyard chicken community members in attendance as possible. We need to communicate the desire for such an ordinance in Scio. I will be working on a petition starting next week.

If anyone in Scio can attend meeting or wants to sign the petition please pm me or check back on this thread. I will post a link to a virtual version of the petition.

 

[Paully37]

The Michigan Right to Farm Act thread may also be of interest:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...o-farm-law-what-does-it-mean/530#post_8827036

Thanks so much for the information. We did call the MRTFA office and found out that, though the MRTFA is supposed to trump all local ordinances, it still does respect zoning. So, because we are in a residential area (though quite rural and with an acre that is fenced in), we cannot have chickens at all. I LOVE my flock and find them to be way quieter than our neighborhood dogs and other animal noises associated with the metro park that we are surrounded by...
On a side note, anyone in Michigan that is in an agricultural zone should be able to defend their right to farm and flock with the MRTFA!

 

[Paully37]

Hi there. I'm not from your township, but i thought it might be a good idea to post on the Michigan thread, too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/233/michigan

Do you have folks associated with the University in your township? I wonder if you could get someone in the U of M vet school on your side?

Good luck.

Thanks! Just posted there

 

[RaZ]

I write for Groundcover News. We are a street paper in Ann Arbor. I'm working on a story about backyard chickens for our May issue, which will revolve around food, primarily local. Can you help fill me in on what's going on in Scio Township?

c.lee(at)groundcovernews(dot)com

I can't help you with Scio Township, but you may be interested in what I'm about to go through in Garden City (Wayne County). I was recently cited after a year of having chickens. A disgruntled neighbor called the ordinance officer.

I supply eggs to immediate neighbors and friends in Washtenaw County, including folks at EMU.

I'll be happy to help if I can. I will also send you an e-mail.

 

[MI-CHick]

I am curious who you spoke to that said RTF does not apply if you are in a residential area.

 

[Nigellas]

http://thomasonfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/

This dude in Ypsilanti was not protected under RTF in court...