Things are looking up in Olathe

[BackyardFarmr92]

Any new developments on this front? Thinking about getting some chickens in Olathe myself.

 

[Terence McIff]

HELP! I was at the Planning Commission meeting last night in Olathe where the new UDO ordinances were being put up for a vote. I was there because of a change in the ordinances regarding chickens. I was able to postpone the vote for two weeks so that we could look at whether the wording and limits are optimal. If anyone gets this let me know what you think and how it would affect you.

The proposed revision adds the following: "Four (4) chickens per acre (no roosters)". It also states that this is by special permit if less than 3 acres and by right if greater than 3 acres.

The following explanation has been given: "To respond to an increase in property owners request to have chickens on their property Staff has included language to allow up four (4) chickens per acre. Chickens are currently allowed by right on a property three (3) acres or more and with a special use permit for properties under three (3) acres. The proposed update simply puts a threshold on the amount of chickens allowed per acre.

In addition the changes to the UDO include bird houses, dog houses, chicken coops, dog kennels, rabbit hutches, bee hives and other animal enclosures allowed only in the rear yard. Minimum set back of 6 feet from property line and a minimum set back of 40 feet from the nearest neighboring dwelling unit. Previously the placement of a coop was could be in any yard including side.

In many ways this is an improvement because it specifies clearly the rights and permissions. I would like to have greater clarity especially for smaller lots than 1 acre. Could we request to have something like one chicken per 1/6 acre which would allow 6 chickens per acre and allow lots smaller than 1 acre to have chickens. No - the proposed changes do not say how small a lot before no chickens are allowed but this would prevent the UDO from interpretation restricting chickens to lots greater than 1 acre.

Is the 3 acre threshold for having to have a permit appropriate for chickens ? or could we have that lowered to 1 or 2 acres. Then those lots could also have chickens "by right" rather than having tho get a permit. Is 4 chickens per acre enough? How many of you have at least one acre? I have roosters but am on 9 acres. I would like to allow roosters as does Lenexa and Overland Park.

Please let me know soon. I will be working with Planning to review this before the next meeting on Monday the 10th of July. This will then go before the City Council in August.

Terry

Hope this catches someones attention here. Thanks.

 

[OZchicks]

Hi. You came by and talked to me tonight about this. I don't think these changes are good. It is placing limits that don't need to be there. For instance right now, you being on 9 acres have no limits the number of chickens you have. Under the proposed changes you would be limited to 36. That may be ok with you but if I had 9 acres I'd probably want to have far more than that. Right now my special use permit allows me to have 6 hens. It seems that the new changes would only allow me to have one considering the size of my lot. We should talk to Dan Fernandez with the planning office and see if we can mirror something like Rowland Parks regulations. Much easier permit process than I went through.

 

[jeria]

Wishing you all luck. I'm in Independence MO glad ours are less prohibitive. 6 chickens, no roosters, coop and run placement 40 feet from the nearest domicile excluding the owner. I only had to revise my coop placement planned spot to meet the codes as it was about 5 feet too close on one side. My current neighbor wouldn't complain and is anxious for a few fresh eggs, but she is 90 with poor health so the situation will change.

 

[Shevraeth]

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but is the planning commission where I'd need to go to try and change how the permit works? I don't know if I should show up at a planning commission meeting or a city council meeting, or if I should contact someone directly first.

I have a big 2 page letter written explaining how other local cities handle chicken permits (special animal permit and $80 or less fee vs special use permit that doesn't really apply to chickens and a $375 fee), a copy of the ordinance from Lee's Summit (well done I think), and even created a permit modeled after Roeland Park and Shawnee's permits.

I mean, I think it's great we can get chickens in the city, but the process and fee is a nightmare and I'd like to try and change it.