Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Urban Agriculture Chickens topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Petition to allow backyard hens advances to planning board after mixed testimony
Summary
Councilors agreed to send a citizen petition that would permit backyard hens in Worcester to the Planning Board and Economic Development committee for review; councilors asked for planning recommendations and suggested special permits and safeguards in denser neighborhoods.
The council filed and advanced a petition asking the city to allow Worcester residents to keep chickens for egg production. Petitioner Joseph Mangiamelli and other supporters testified about food security, education for children and household savings from home egg production. Supporters emphasized limiting roosters and capping flock sizes.
Opponents and several councilors expressed concerns about noise, pests, enforcement, multi-family housing and proximity to neighbors. Councillor Russell and others recommended a process that would require a special permit or site review in denser neighborhoods, notification of neighbors and strict rules on roosters, coop construction and rodent control.
Councilors voted to send the petition to the Planning Board and to Economic Development (and to request a report back to municipal operations) with direction to review regulations used by comparable Massachusetts cities, options for zoning or special-permit approaches and draft standards (maximum flock sizes, setback distances, ban on roosters, pest-control requirements).
Ending: The petition was referred to the Planning Board; councilors asked staff to analyze options including a special-permit route to balance urban concerns and household food-production goals.
