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Residents press council on backyard chickens and Parkview Skate Park restrooms during public comment
Summary
During public comment at the Oct. 2 Cookeville City Council meeting, residents and local scouts asked the council to revisit city code on backyard chickens and inquired about reopening restrooms at Parkview Skate Park after repeated vandalism.
Citizens at the Oct. 2 Cookeville City Council meeting urged the city to revisit rules on backyard chickens and asked when restrooms at Parkview Skate Park will reopen following vandalism-related closures.
Adam Rajabali, who identified himself as a Cookeville resident and a member of Troop 156, told the council he had emailed city staff requesting consideration of allowing backyard chicken coops inside city limits. Staff and council members said the issue will require a change to the municipal code and noted a recently enacted 2024 state law that restricts cities from outright banning chickens on residential lots. During discussion staff and council members said the state law allows local regulation in some cases and that the number of chickens a local ordinance may limit (commonly expressed during the discussion as six) should be reviewed. Council members and staff invited Mr. Rajabali to speak with planning staff after the meeting to follow up and to discuss drafting possible code amendments or permit/registration approaches similar to beekeeper registration.
Several other residents, including another speaker identified as Jeff King, spoke in support of allowing a limited number of backyard chickens and said local experience in other cities suggests the issue can be regulated to avoid nuisances. City staff indicated the existing city code includes acreage and distance requirements for livestock and that changes would be needed to accommodate backyard coops on smaller residential lots.
Alex Santamango, also representing Troop 156, asked when the restrooms at Parkview Skate Park would be reopened. Staff said the restrooms were closed in response to repeated vandalism and that the city has been evaluating repairs, camera coverage and other measures; officials said they had reopened the skate park while keeping restrooms closed at times and that staff will revisit options for repairs and reopening. City leaders thanked the scouts for their participation and said staff would follow up on both the chicken-code review and the skate-park restroom status.
The matters raised during public comment generated no immediate council votes but were referred to staff for follow-up and possible code revision.
