Urban agriculture and animal keeping ordinance (Ordinance 21-22)

Every hearing and vote

1. October 19, 2021 · City Council

   Urban agriculture and animal keeping, Ordinance 21-22 (public hearing)

   Continued · 4-0

   Community Development Director Mike DeSimone presented amendments adding community and urban agriculture and standards for chickens, bees and livestock, which the Planning Commission recommended unanimously on September 23. Staff proposed about six chickens per lot and no roosters. Twelve speakers addressed the ordinance. Michael Timmons of Hillcrest opposed mini-farms next to a playground; Kim Johansen, Austin Elder, Andres Sinfield, Jorden Luke and a 4-H representative asked for higher limits or more latitude; Laverna Horne asked for balance; Ashley Kidd said it overreached; Jessica Vahsholtz raised enforcement concerns; John Shivik, a chicken owner, said the code can set good-neighbor guidelines. Staff said enforcement is complaint-driven and existing, continuously maintained uses would be grandfathered. Council Member Jeannie Simmonds raised outdoor slaughter in small-lot neighborhoods and Ernesto López asked why the chicken limit was not higher. Because this was the only hearing, the council continued the ordinance to November 2 for action and invited emails.

   • Planning Commission: recommended approval, September 23, 2021
   • Staff proposal: typical limit of six chickens per residential lot; no roosters

   Moved by Council Member Amy Anderson, seconded by Council Member Ernesto López. Vote: 4-0; the minutes say the motion carried unanimously, counted here as the 4 council members present

2. November 2, 2021 · City Council

   Urban agriculture and animal keeping, Ordinance 21-22

   Continued · 5-0

   Staff proposed an animal equivalent unit system modeled on North Logan, Hyde Park, Smithfield and Hyrum. After the October 19 hearing, council members changed the chicken limits by lot size, from 6 on lots under 6,000 square feet up to 25 on lots of 20,001 square feet or more, and agreed to prohibit slaughter. Chair Mark Anderson asked for larger setbacks for larger animals, Simmonds raised allergy and density concerns and Jensen favored quiet fowl and small animals. Mayor Daines and the council asked to exclude large animals such as cows and horses, set a grandfathering date and add a public chart. The council continued the ordinance to November 16 with no new hearing.

   • Chicken limits by lot size: under 6,000 sq ft, 6; 6,000 to 10,000, 12; 10,001 to 12,000, 15; 12,001 to 20,000, 20; 20,001 and over, 25

   Moved by Council Member Ernesto López, seconded by Council Member Jeannie Simmonds. Vote: 5-0; the minutes say the motion carried unanimously, counted here as the 5 council members present

3. November 16, 2021 · City Council

   Urban agriculture and animal keeping, Ordinance 21-22

   Approved · 5-0

   The council adopted the ordinance with a 25-foot setback from adjoining residences for chickens and 50 feet for livestock, a 10,000-square-foot minimum lot for livestock, a ban on livestock over 250 pounds and grandfathering tied to the May 7, 2019 animal code. Simmonds asked how the 250-pound limit was set; DeSimone said it came from accessory dwelling unit information, and she raised concern about the wording. Jensen worried a neighbor's future structure could make an existing coop nonconforming, and López asked about 4-H calves.

   Moved by Council Member Jeannie Simmonds, seconded by Council Member Amy Anderson. Vote: 5-0; the minutes say the motion carried unanimously, counted here as the 5 council members present