Alan Siegel, a West Melbourne resident, spoke during public comment on Aug. 7 to oppose a proposed amendment to Brevard County Ordinance 2012-36 that would alter rules on keeping chickens. Siegel told the board he lives in Palm Garden Lakes, where average lot size is "approximately 0.2 of an acre," and said he feared the change would "override the established rules" and HOA deed restrictions. He urged the board to deny the proposed change, saying chickens "carry diseases like salmonella, listeria, e coli, and avian flu," and that they "are noisy" and could attract pests.

Commissioner John Delaney and other staff members clarified the scope of the pending ordinance advertisement. Delaney told Siegel the proposed change under discussion "only have to do with North Brevard and also, not HOAs, not cities." The staff clarified that the county would not supersede a homeowner association's deed restrictions. The board did not take action on an ordinance change at the Aug. 7 hearing; Delaney advised Siegel that the matter would be debated at a future commission meeting after required notice and that interested residents could follow up with staff.

Siegel provided additional details in his remarks, saying current county rules impose a minimum property-size requirement of a half-acre for domestic livestock in unincorporated agricultural areas and that there are "1,634" HOAs in the county with smaller lots; he asked the board, if it alters the ordinance, to exclude HOAs and rental properties.

The remarks were entered as public comment; the board did not vote on an ordinance amendment at this meeting and instructed staff to provide updates to the speaker if requested.