Residents deliver 500-signature petition seeking ordinance to allow backyard hens in Woodbury

Samantha Wolf, a Woodbury resident and petition spokesperson, presented the council with a packet and more than 500 signatures on Oct. 8 asking the city to amend its zoning code to allow residents in R-4 zones to keep up to six backyard hens and to prohibit roosters.

"We, the undersigned residents of the city of Woodbury, respectfully request that the city council consider an amendment to the city's zoning ordinance to allow for the keeping of six backyard hens, no roosters in our R-4 residential zones," Wolf read from the petition submitted to the council.

Nut graf: Petitioners told the council the signatures were gathered in person at community events and represent neighbors who support a limited, humane hen ordinance that preserves HOA authority and addresses health, education and accessibility benefits.

Wolf said volunteers gathered most signatures in person over the summer at events including Starlight Cinema, Woodbury Days and the farmers market; she told the council that about 85 to 90% of people they approached signed the petition. She asked the council to involve petitioners in drafting any ordinance.

Michelle Kujak, who said her daughter participates in Woodbury 4-H, told the council allowing hens would expand hands-on education and responsibility for children who do not live on farms. "Allowing chickens as pets allows these kids another opportunity to partake in their community, but also responsibility," Kujak said.

Jenny Jennings, another Woodbury resident, summarized research she said shows backyard hens can support mental and emotional well-being, and she cited the University of Minnesota's PAWS program as an example of therapy animals used to reduce student stress.

Wolf noted petitioners provided comparative ordinances from neighboring cities (Hastings, Cottage Grove and Stillwater), letters of support from a Ramsey County master gardener and outreach to University of Minnesota Extension staff. Petitioners asked the council to preserve homeowners-association authority to restrict birds within private covenants.

Ending: The mayor said the council would take the petition under advisement and revisit the issue at a future meeting; no ordinance vote was scheduled that night.