Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Andover amends code to allow limited farm animals in A-1 zoning; council approves ordinance
Summary
City council adopted an ordinance amending municipal code to allow limited large and small farm animals in A-1 agricultural transition zoning, with restrictions tied to parcel size and cumulative ratios.
David Westfall, planning and zoning administrator, presented an ordinance to the council proposing changes that would allow residents in the A-1 agricultural transition zoning district to keep large and small farm animals on larger parcels, with maximums set by acreage and a cumulative ratio to reduce impact on neighbors.
"This proposed ordinance, before you tonight would allow for the keeping of large and small farm animals, solely restricted to large parcels within the A-1 agricultural transition zoning district with maximums for the number of animals associated with that acreage," Westfall said. He said staff had worked with residents and brought policy language to two council workshops in October and November.
Council members asked whether the change would affect typical single-family lots; Westfall clarified that it would not — the revision applies only to the A-1 district and would not alter rules for SF-1 or standard residential lots. After brief questions, a motion to adopt the ordinance was made and the council approved the ordinance by a recorded vote of 6-0.
Why it matters: The change allows hobby-farm–scale animal keeping where parcels and zoning permit it, while keeping standard residential rules in place. The ordinance frames allowable animals and quantity by acreage and is intended to mitigate adverse impacts on adjacent properties.
Next steps: The ordinance takes effect according to the city's code-adoption schedule; staff will continue to field inquiries from residents in A-1 districts about permitting and restrictions.
