Monroeville zoning board grants homeowner exception to keep four hens at Sunset Drive house

Monroeville —eb. 4, 2025 Monroeville zoning board on June 4 approved a special exception permitting a homeowner at 205 Sunset Drive to keep up to four hens on property in the R-1 single-family zoning district.

The decision matters because the board resolved a request under the town—ode that governs backyard poultry in single-family neighborhoods and confirmed that the applicant may keep chickens subject to the ordinance—onditions.

Federico Silva, the applicant and homeowner, told the Monroeville Zoning Hearing Board he wanted backyard chickens to share with his young child and described family experience with farming. "We'd like to get chickens. There you go. Simple enough," Silva said. He added, "My grandparents had a farm. I grew up around animals, and we have a 2 and a half year old, and she has a love for animals. We love to encourage that in her." Silva said he has already purchased the birds and that they are at his property.

Paul, a municipal staff member, read the application and ordinance references to the board, identifying the item as "25-9-A, Casey Silva" and citing Article 12, section 1211(c)(4) of the Monroeville Zoning Ordinance No. 2779 as the governing provision for chickens. Paul told the board that the ordinance includes requirements such as a 25-foot setback from residential structures in one provision the board discussed and that the code requires "16 square feet per chicken." Paul said the paperwork included a site map showing the applicant's planned coop location.

Board members questioned the proposed location and dimensions. Silva showed a site diagram on the monitor and said the coop would be at the back left of the house inside a fenced area. He told the board the nearest neighbor would be about 15 feet from the coop location shown on his diagram, and he said he had talked with nearby neighbors who "have no issues with it." When asked whether he would consider relocating the coop to the rear yard, Silva said he would: "I definitely consider that. Yeah. Absolutely. Be happy to build something. I'm a contractor," noting his construction experience.

The board confirmed that no written objections had been submitted: staff reported notices were mailed, the property was posted, and the two required legal advertisements ran in the newspaper, and that there was no correspondence opposing the application. Board members also asked whether the applicant had already begun construction; Silva said no coop materials had been built on site but confirmed the birds were at the house.

A motion to approve the special exception to allow up to four hens at 205 Sunset Drive was made and the board approved the motion by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally; the meeting record shows an affirmative voice vote and the presiding officer congratulated the applicant on approval. The board and staff reminded Silva of ordinance limits, including the prohibition on roosters and the spacing and square-footage requirements that apply.

The applicant and staff indicated the coop had not yet been constructed and that Silva would consider siting it farther toward the rear of the lot to address spacing. There were no other public commenters on the item. The board moved on to adjournment after closing the item.