Atherton staff: housing element sent to state; council sends chicken-keeping rules back to planning commission

Town planning staff told the Atherton Planning Commission on March 26 that the town submitted housing element text revisions to the state and that the city manager is holding off on a public study session about an inclusionary housing ordinance while awaiting comments from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Staff said a minor zoning-text amendment to clarify ministerial approval language was adopted at the city council’s second reading. The planner presenting the item said the housing element package is back with HCD and that another study session likely will be delayed from April to May. On a separate matter, the City Council asked the Planning Commission to revisit the town’s rules on keeping chickens after a portion of the municipal code that addressed animal keeping had been inadvertently deleted. Staff said it will work with the code enforcement office on public outreach to determine how many residents are interested in keeping chickens and whether other animals should be considered. Lisa Marie Daley, code enforcement officer, told commissioners she has been following the chicken discussions closely and will assist with outreach. Commissioners recalled extensive public interest in prior chicken hearings and discussed how the council trimmed a previously suggested limit on flock size. The planner said staff will draft a public outreach strategy and likely present the topic first as a study session for the commission and council.