The Mantua committee passed an ordinance during its April 8 meeting that changes the minimum acreage ownership required for residents to own chickens and some other birds from five acres to one.
Copies of the measure were provided with the meeting’s agenda. The ordinance notes that chicken ownership must occur on a lot of one acre or more in the area, with a minimum setback 30 feet from property lines. Chickens are not permitted in a front-yard setback and no roosters are allowed.
Chickens previously characterized as farmland animals in Mantua are now classified as fowl, namely “any feathered vertebrate animal,” including hens; ducks; turkeys; pheasants; and other barnyard-type birds, according to the ordinance.
“We felt that was a fair compromise,” explained Mayor Robert Zimmerman. “We brought it down to 80% of what it was, and it gives people within the community the opportunity to have hens or chickens on properties less than five acres.”
Those with fewer than one acre can apply for a variance application with the land use board, he added.
“With that, we felt it was a good idea that residents in the neighborhoods would also, by law, have to be notified if they’re within 200 feet,” he said. “So if somebody was on a smaller property and they applied, the residence in closest proximity to them would be notified and be made aware of it and be able to come in and speak either for or against what the application was trying to accomplish within the respective developments.”
The ordinance was the result of several residents petitioning the committee last year to change the rule on chicken ownership, so a local family, the Anconas, would not be forced to relocate their birds, Cleo, Stormy and Toasty. The petition garnered 2,722 signatures on Change.org.
“We are hoping to start a positive change in Mantua Township’s zoning ordinance and allow residents to have pet chickens,” said Mike Ancona. “We know that there are some people that will be against this. Some of their reasons may be due to misinformation or previous experiences they’ve had with irresponsible pet owners, but everyone shouldn’t be punished because of one or two bad eggs.”
The next township committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, May 13.
