Variance hearing on March 25th -- any words of wisdom

[Lucy4]

To make a very, very long story short, we have very hard neighbors. We have lived in our home 2 1/2 years and they complain about a variety of issues on a regular basis. It's not just us; the neighbor on the other side told us they're tormented as well.

Anyway, we'd always given in to their demands until they told us to get rid of our 4 pullets. They're important to my child (who has emotional and developmental problems) so I took a stand for the first time.

What I didn't realize until then is that we were technically in the wrong. While we are zoned for chickens in our town, I misunderstood the acreage/number rules. As soon as the vindictive neighbors figured that out a couple weeks ago, they reported us to the town.

The people we spoke to in zoning were very sympathetic. They're just doing their jobs. We're applying for a variance (it's a lot of paperwork!) and hoping for the best. But for those who've been through this process, we'd like some advice.

First, I have to say: this is not like dealing with a cranky neighbor. Ours, from all appearances and many opinions, has clinical psychological problems. Appealing to their compassion will not work, or I would just talk to them. They have a pavilion (party room) on the edge of our property. It is apparently out of code and does not have the proper permits. I don't want to play dirty... and I don't want them to retaliate (they've had their daughter throw rocks at our chickens before, and I don't want one to hit our kids.) But the fact we have ammunition is a potential factor.

We want to go to the town board in an amiable manner. We have a letter from our son's psychologist, explaining the therapeutic benefits of the chickens for a child with borderline PDD. We also would like to offer to move the coop to the opposite side of our property (far from problematic neighbors -- the rest don't care), and to put up privacy fencing, and to rehome the loudest of the four girls.

Do you have any other suggestions, encouragements, ideas? This has been incredibly stressful. Were it not for the real estate market and our limited funds, we would move. They are always spying on us and I feel very unsafe.

Thank you for any help ahead of time.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Since the zoning folks were cordial and helpful, ask their advice in what you can do on your variance request to make it most likely to be seen with favor, and also what things are more likely to be viewedd negatively. Also, in the variance process, do they express an opinion to council? I know that ours does, based up specifics of each situation. If yours does, ask whether they will be recommending approval or not, and why.

I really think that the neighbor's party pavillion needs to be addressed separately, not in conjunction with your variance request. If they are having their children throw rocks at your animals in your yard, that is at least a misdemeanor, but for parents to be encouraging their childrens' misbehavior is quite worrisome. It sounds as if there may be an actual danger associated with the unbalanced neighbor, not to mention the damage to the kids.

 

[littlegorb]

ask for reasonable accommodation under the fair housing act and the civil rights act. the right for people with disabilities to have emotional support animals. i am going through the same thing, and my story is a long one too if you care to read that.
after presenting a dr. note to my city, i was still not allowed to have my chickens. my state eoc found discrimination had occurred, now i have a lawyer. i have been through the ringer and i hope my outcome is good as it can help others like me and your child. hope it helps.