During a council meeting in May, chickens became the talk of Medford Township as residents debated whether the animals should be permitted on residential properties.
More than six months later, the debate has been re-ignited, as a resident has asked council to open the topic for discussion once more.
Jennifer Kosick, a resident of Medford’s Tamarac development, returned to council on Nov. 25 to ask council to resume exploring an ordinance permitting chickens on residential properties. Numerous supporters attended the meeting.
In May, a discussion about creating an ordinance to permit backyard chickens came before council. The discussion commenced after the Kosick family was found to be in violation of a township ordinance for having chickens on their property.
After the Kosicks brought their concerns to council, there was a discussion of adding an ordinance to permit backyard chickens. However, council determined it did not have enough information on the topic and did not pursue the issue any further. The Kosicks removed the chickens from their backyard in June.
At the Nov. 25 meeting, Kosick proposed a new ordinance specifically allowing chickens on residential property, as long as they are kept for non-agricultural use and the chicken coops are kept away from buildings and in a sanitary state.
Kosick said the current ordinance only prohibits chickens on agricultural properties and doesn’t refer to residential properties.
“This is for an agricultural property,” she said. “I don’t have an agricultural property.”
Kosick cited cities such as Atlanta and New York that allow backyard chickens. She couldn’t understand how a rural town such as Medford would prohibit it.
“People raise them because they want control of them on their property and over their food,” she said.
Kosick’s proposal also covered a lot of the complaints opposing residents brought up in May. Multiple residents brought forward concerns about cleanliness, disease and noise. The proposal included language and rules regarding these topics.
Despite Kosick’s proposal, some residents still think an ordinance should be avoided. Resident Brian Dunham originally spoke out against the ordinance in May. He returned to council during the Dec. 2 meeting to state there was still plenty of opposition against Kosick’s proposals.
“Our views are still the same,” Dunham said.
Dunham also said many residents would be unable to keep chickens in their backyard even if an ordinance was passed because deed restrictions, including ones in Tamarac, would still prohibit chickens. The deed restrictions would override the township ordinance.
“No animals, livestock and poultry, shall be kept on any lot,” Dunham said in quoting the restriction.
Kosick said there are many residents in Medford who keep chickens in their backyard and said the topic is relevant to many people besides her own family.
“There’s a lot of people with backyard chickens,” she said. “The only reason I’m here is because I have cranky neighbors that complained about it.”
The topic of backyard chickens may find itself on another council agenda in the coming months. Mayor Chris Buoni told Kosick he was open to the concept of establishing a specific ordinance for chickens, though he had some concerns about how the township would enforce it. He said council might look into the topic early in 2015.
