Zoning Miracle...It pays to READ!

[3peeps]

Well...I was walking by our kitchen table the other day and see a map of our area. Apparently I'd been sitting next to it at every meal, but never "noticed" it (another issue). It had come in the mail with a notice of zoning information.

Anyway, I had been told twice by our town clerk that we cannot have chickens...once over the phone and once in an email, but no written proof was ever given. He said we were residential, and I believed him, but decided to rebel all the foolishness.

So I got chickens this past summer and have been concealing them inside our privacy fence.

Upon closer examination of the afformentioned map, I, miracle of all miracles, discover that we are zoned agricultural!!!!!

So I drive my freshly amazed happy self down to the town hall and talk to the nicest man on earth who tells me that not only can I have chickens, but that I need to keep them so that I will forever maintain our "grandfathered agricultural status".

HOLY AMAZING TURNAROUNDS BATMAN!!!

HURRAYHURRAYHURRAY!!!!! The girls will be introduced to the REST of the yard, we will construct a legitimate chickie house and the town clerk can take a big flying leap into our never-to-be-hidden-again compost pile full of chicken crap!

MORAL: Go get it in writing yourself.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

That's great news!

 

[speckledhen]

So, take THAT, City Hall! Good for you! Never take anyone's word for anything like this because they usually know SQUAT. They probably just make it up as they go along because they're too lazy to look it up themselves. Pays to do your own research, huh?

 

[poppycat]

YAY!

 

[Heidi]

If for some reason your map is an old one and you are zoned residential you can still get a permit to have your chickens. All you need to do is have your neighbors write a brief letter stating they are fine with it and have pics of how clean everything is and go to the township board meeting. Make sure you get on the agenda before hand. I work for our township and that's what everyone else does that isn't zoned accordingly.

 

[3peeps]

Quote:
Well, I was told that he's a "horse's rear" but I'll forgive him since I've never met him in person.

I'll save a few rotten tomatoes, though, in case I ever do meet him. Hope he's a fast runner.

Yes it pays!

 

[3peeps]

Quote:
Thanks Heidi...the map is brand new and will go into effect next week. We are agriculture and will continue to be, through grandfathering. So he actually told me that if I didn't have my birds, I should go get them before the vote.

Go figure...my defiance actually paid off.

 

[devora]

"You can't fight City Hall"?? Bok that!

Congrats!

 

[Lunachick]

Yay for you 3Peeps. Bet sleeping at night is a wonderful feeling now. (no worries)

 

[Windy Ridge]

Hooray!