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

[jaygon]

I do not have chickens at this time, but would like to reserve the right to have them some day. Which is better, to attend the meeting or write the letter? Actually, as I write this I believe both would be best. Agreed?

 

[CopperCT]

Quote:
Absolutely agreed!!!!

The hearing is now June 2nd which gives you a bit of time to do both. I hope to meet you at the hearing.

Thank you so much and most of all......

Liz

 

[seamripper13]

Hi Liz,

I'm not sure which way the planner is leaning. He seemed to me to be a very nice person to speak with. The planner and I have been trying to urge one of my daughter's Vo-Ag teachers to speak at the meeting. I have a positive feeling that he will be going to the meeting. I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Amy

 

[CopperCT]

Quote:
Good morning Amy:

That is really good news. I hope the teacher will decide to speak.....I hope he does! I'm going to try to find some time this week to go in to planners office when he is there so I can talk with him too.

 

[CopperCT]

Just found the Planning & Zoning Commission agenda for Thursday's meeting on the Town website. The Public hearing for Keeping poultry in on the agenda. It's at the Town Hall, 3rd floor at 7 pm on June 2nd. I hope we can get many poultry keeping supporters to come out!!!

 

[NYchickie]

What happened at the meeting?

 

[CopperCT]

Quote:
The meeting was very long and inconclusive unfortunately. The Town Planner presented his proposed rule change and it was attacked by two board members saying chickens were dirty and the definition of poultry included birds such as emus and ostrichs.....just silly. The health dept weighed in by saying they didn't have the time to police complaints and that they were against allowing chickens in Vernon.

One of the local Vernon Vo-ag teachers spoke and he was excellent in support of keeping chickcens as a good thing. Then the public hearing began, my husband went first and did a good job outlining the benefits of keeping pet chickens. Overall supporters of keeping poultry were about twice as many as those against in both testimony and in letters of support. The trouble is that those against were very well connected with the board and knew them all well and therefore their objections might have weight with the board.

It ended up with no vote on the new rule and a request for a revised rule including lot size restrictions for keeping chickens as well as defining them as "gallus" species only (no ducks, geese, ostriches etc) as well as a request to craft a rule to prohibit poultry all together and then the P&Z would pick which one to adopt in the end. It was unclear whether there would be an opportunity for further public input or whether the P&Z would just get to vote for one rule prohibiting poultry all together or whether they would vote to allow them with restrictions depending on lot size. I hope to meet with the Planner next week to clarify what happens next. It's still very much in the air.

Any other Vernon "gallus" owners, we could sure need your help right now. Keep writing support letters and petitions and let Vernon know you support keeping chickens. Thank you!!!!!

We will keep on trying...no matter what. I wish there was a big thumbs up but that isn't case in Vernon yet.

 

[seamripper1313]

Hi Liz,

I went to visit the town planner yesterday. The planner seems to still have hope that the plan will pass. He said he was starting at a half acre with 12 chickens. That is what I think he said. He stated he didn't know what to write regarding the plan for disapproval. I was told the vote will be on the 16th and that I could call on the 17th to hear the outcome. I should ask him if we can go and listen. I gave him a copy of the chicken coops for sale at The Barn Yard, and a copy of the June 11th 4H fair at the Tolland Ag Center in Vernon. The kids from the Vo-Ag program at the high school are doing something there, raising chickens, zoning and so on. I still think that we need to get more letters of approval. I wish I had made a prepared speech before I went to the hearing. I'm still steaming over your neighbor. I hope she doesn't have too much pull.
Amy

 

[CopperCT]

Quote:
Hi Amy:

It was terrific to meet you the other night...you didn't need a prepared speech.... I thought you did great. I hope to get in to see the planner this week...he should start at a quarter acre not a half....otherwise many people would not be allowed to have poultry. We should still try for as liberal rules as we can get. I have sent my neighbors in to talk to him and hopefully to write more letters but I still think the vote is very much in the air. Hopefully he can read the board better than I can and those who are against don't have much pull with them.

 

[seamripper1313]

Well the vote is tomorrow. I have tried to gather up some Vo-Ag kids to come in uniform and stare down the town council. There was a 4H thing on poultry Saturday at the Tolland Ag. Center. I was abel to meet the poultry specialist from UCONN as well as Joan Nichols from the Ct Farm Bureau. Both very friendly and informative. They both agreed to speak with the planner. On Monday I went to visit the planner, gave him some books on chickens and the business cards of the people above.

Ms. Nichols spoke to me tonight and stated that she has read the plan, and gave some advice to the planner. She also stated that the planner spoke with the UCONN guy. I still think it will be a half acre. I don't think the plan has changed too much. Ms. Nichols said that she was not shone the proposal to be declined.

I hope to see you at the vote. I found out that some Vo-Ag Vernon parents weren't even aware of the hearing, but I think they may come to the vote.