Vernon, CT*UPDATE* Voted down :( but will try again!!!!

[crimsonchic]

I live in North Vernon and am new to this area. I just purchased 5 chicks and put together their coop. Will my opinion be of any value? I am all for the chickens!

 

[precisely]

Another new Vernon resident here, looking to get some chicks. Is there anything planned for the future in terms of hearings/attempting to get the regulations clarified?

 

[amcarmicheal]

Hi All!

I work at Strong Family Farm in Vernon Connecticut and I am working on forming a community group to get Chickens into Vernon!

Through the farm I have met MANY residents in favor of chicken keeping and I think if we get a large enough group together we can get chickens into Vernon.

I would like to get our group formed and solid before the winter so that we can hopefully being raising chicks in time for Spring 2014. Here's hoping!!!

In the mean-time we have chickens at Strong Family Farm and we even offer a chicken adoption program. (the chickens stay on the farm!) I am at the farm every Wednesday morning from about 9am - 12pm if you ever want to stop by and chat about chickens.

Let me know if you are interested and I will give you my e-mail address.

I look forward to working with all of you soon!

Alexis

 

[seamripper1313]

Preferences
§
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
-
=
Backspace

Tab
q
w
e
r
t
y
u
i
o
p
[
]

Return


capslock
a
s
d
f
g
h
j
k
l
;
'
\

shift
`
z
x
c
v
b
n
m
,
.
/
shift


English








alt
alt


PreferencesH
Hi Alexis,

I am very interested in getting a community chicken group going. Just to let any newbies know, the town is currently not zoned for chickens. I'm sure Strong Farm is zoned, it's a farm.
Amy

 

[kimleeblue]

Trying to find answers on raising chickens in Vernon, CT. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kimleeblue]

Hi I am a newby and am very interested in learning to raise chickens in Vernon, CT. In the mean time I would like to learn as much as I can. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Blooie]

I don't live in Vernon - in fact I'm way out here in Wyoming. But I follow all of these discussions, such as the recent changes in the RTFA in Michigan, with great interest. I have served on the Planning and Zoning commission in our small town, and am currently on the town council. We recently passed an animal ordinance here. Historically livestock has been kept in town since the community was founded, so putting together an ordinance seeking to exert a little control for the benefit of our non-animal keeping citizens while not losing the flavor of Cowley was critical. We held repeated open meetings discussing the ordinance and welcomed the formation of a committee to speak for the livestock owners in town. Working together we got it done. Some thought we went too far, some thought we didn't go far enough, but we can all live with the final ordinance. Horses, sheep, cows, donkeys, goats, poultry of any kind (no number limit and no ban on roosters) are welcome here with guidelines established for cleanliness, setbacks, a way to amicably settle complaints, and a simple livestock keeping permit available anytime from our town hall. As a result, Cowley is a little cleaner, livestock owners a little more sensitive to the rights of non-owners, and there's a little more cash in the budget for other things the town might need. The lady next door to me has horses. Across the street are a couple of steers. I have chickens (including roosters) On summer evenings we can sit on our deck and watch the 4-H kids walking their sheep down the street preparing them for the county and state fairs. We instituted a nominal annual permit fee, with a lower fee when kids bring in their 4-H packets. Is it a perfect system? Probably not. But we remain flexible and when issues do come up at least we have some guidelines to fall back on, and we have the ability to work with the citizens to make changes as we need to.

What I'm leading up to is merely some suggestions which might help you get your Planning and Zoning commission to change their stance, if they haven't already. I didn't read a current update on the status of your battle to permit chickens so if I'm clucking up the wrong coop I hope you'll let me know. It might be helpful to obtain and present ordinances from other surrounding communities which do permit chickens to be kept. Perhaps a representative from one of those communities would be able to attend a meeting and explain how they have addressed concerns, solved issues and what they determined constituted a back yard chicken owner's compliance. Offer a permit fee schedule. Most towns like the idea of another way to raise revenue. Send out flyers to those people you have solidly in your corner proposing a self-regulatory contract - no chickens will be able to encroach on a neighbor's property, coops and runs maintained in a clean manner, noise kept to a minimum, (and that might mean conceding to a "no roosters" rule as has been done in many other places) and adherence to a number limit as set by the commission. That would be a way to assure the governing body that they would have responsible owners ready and able to set the example for anyone who decides later that they'd like to get into raising a few chickens. In that vein, you could start a small poultry association within Vernon so folks get started in their adventure with the best information possible on disease and pest control, cleanliness standards, and good management practices. The big thing, and the hardest to do right now, is to make sure that you aren't keeping chickens illegally - that is trying to hide them with the hope that you won't be found out before you get a working ordinance. That could go a long way toward building a good working relationship with the town officials rather than a contentious one.

Those are just a few thoughts.....some you've probably already done and some you might not have thought of. I was on P&Z and council long before I got my first chicks so I know both sides of the chicken keeping coin. I wish you good luck. Keep the fight honest, keep it clean, and keep it civil - it might take some time but you are laying the groundwork for a new generation to learn the joys and responsibilities of providing your families with wholesome foods and a group of entertaining lawn ornaments. It's a good fight - one worth continuing.

 

[seamripper1313]

I live in Vernon. In 2011 I was part of a group of people trying to change the zoning laws to allow residents to raise chickens. We were voted down and told that a study would be done. As far as I know, this study has never been done. My word of warning to you is that if you aren't zoned for chickens, and a neighbor complains, be prepared to get rid of your flock. If you need info about raising chickens, I would be more than happy to help you.
Amy

 

[buckbye]

So pull your neighbor's assessor card and look for improvements with no permit or CO that's not being taxed, even setback or wetlands violations, and lord it over them to get what you want. It can work beautifully. True story.

And Invest in tall fences and hedges.

 

[Barn Owl]

I have recently developed an in interest in raising a few chickens, and understand that Vernon may not allow them. Is that true, and is it usually just if a neighbor complains? I have an acre, so there is plenty of room. I read a bylaw regarding certain areas with designations that do allow, based on lot size, but the legal jargon is painful reading. Hope to hear from anyone with any info. Thanks.