Residents' Concerns Stall Residential Chickens Ordinance

An ordinance that would make it easier for Lexington residents to raise chickens in the town limits is up for discussion again.

Lexington Town Council voted 6-1 Monday to send the ordinance back to work session after two Lexington residents who live in the Conventry Lake area spoke against it during a public hearing. 

Suzanne Buege said she knows from experience that allowing chickens in a residential area is not a good idea. She used to live next to a family that had chickens.

"They caused a stinch in the summer and the neighbors' houses were infested with mice," Buege said. "Chickens don't belong in a town like Lexington. They belong on the outskirts of town." 

Council voted in favor of the ordinance during the first reading in October. The final reading was supposed to be Monday, but after hearing the concerns of the two residents, Councilmen Ted Stambolitis and Danny Frazier made a motion to further discuss the issue at a council work session. 

Stambolitis said that council should consider increasing the required buffer between chicken coops and property lines from 25 feet to 50 feet. 

Frazier said that he was planning to vote against the ordinance at Monday's meeting — even before hearing from the two residents. Having chickens in residential areas would create a foul smell, he said. 

"I don't think people in a residential area really want to go in their back yard and try to cook a steak with that smell hitting them in the face," Frazier said.

The ordinance would allow chickens in residents' back yards as long as they are at least 25 feet from any property line. It also limits the number of chickens to four. Roosters are not allowed. 

The town's ordinance would not override any neighborhood association restrictions against raising chickens. 

Mayor Randy Halfacre said that the town put restrictions in the ordinance to try to prevent anyone's chickens from being a nuisance to other residents. 

"Between the setbacks and the neighborhood restrictions, there will be a limited number of people who will even have chickens," Halfacre said. 

Todd Shevchik was the only council member to vote against sending the ordinance back to a work session. He said he plans to have chickens at his house if the ordinance passes. 

"A lot of the reason people want chickens is because they want their own eggs," he said.

Council's next work session is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 19.