The Lee County Board discussed proposed amendments to Chapter 5 of the county zoning code that would restrict the number of animals allowed per acre in R-1 residential districts and permit up to six hens with no roosters in R-2 districts.

The change matters because it would move the county from an unrestricted agriculture allowance in R-1 toward a uniform animal-unit system that ties the number of animals to parcel acreage. Jack Skragstead, a county board member, said the petition would go to the planning commission for review before any board action.

Alice, a zoning office staff member, summarized the two parts of the petition: ‘‘The first amendment we’re looking to make is to the R 1 District. Currently, agriculture is allowed in the Ag 1 District, with no limitations. The amendment would put a restriction on the number of animals that will be allowed per acre in the R 1 District. The second amendment would be to the R 2 District, and that would be for the allowance of chickens, up to 6 hens, no roosters with restrictions on how to on how you could have those chickens.’’ Skragstead added that the animal allowances would be governed by an ‘‘animal unit’’ chart adapted from grazing and livestock resources.

Under the chart described in the meeting, a cow is listed as one animal unit (one cow per acre), pigs were cited as 0.5 animal units (about two pigs per acre), and smaller livestock such as goats were discussed in the range of about 0.15 animal units (roughly six such animals per acre). Alice said the chart was intended to guide manure management and nuisance concerns. The proposal also would give the zoning office discretion to assign an animal-unit value if a species is not listed in the chart.

County board members did not take a final vote on the text amendments during the meeting; Skragstead and staff said the petition will be forwarded to the planning commission for study and recommendation. Judge Slavin was mentioned as working on a separate petition’s recommendation and expected to have that to staff the following week, but not for the King petition.

If approved after the planning commission and subsequent board consideration, the changes would alter how residents in R-1 and R-2 districts are allowed to keep livestock and poultry, and would formalize a process for assessing unlisted species.

The discussion occurred during the County Services committee report portion of the board meeting; no formal ordinance or ordinance number was read or adopted at the session.