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Montgomery Township recalls backyard‑chicken approval, pauses feeding‑animals rule and begins data‑center review
Summary
Chair Tanya Bamford said the board approved a limited backyard‑chicken policy after resident requests, chose to pause a proposed feeding‑animals ordinance pending Environmental Advisory Council review, and has begun research and a forthcoming hosted discussion on data‑center impacts.
Montgomery Township officials described a mix of completed and ongoing local policy work during a township podcast focused on board priorities and community engagement.
Chair Tanya Bamford said resident requests and staff research prompted debate about allowing backyard chickens; "ultimately, with, you know, some limitations in place did elect to approve backyard chickens in the Township," she said, and added that she does not believe the township has received complaints after the approval. The transcript does not include an ordinance number, motion text, or a vote tally.
On a separate matter, township manager Carolyn McCreery described a proposed ordinance related to feeding animals and urged caution because of potential unintended consequences, such as attracting wildlife or affecting composting practices. McCreery said the board decided to "pump the brakes" and solicit input from the Environmental Advisory Council before proceeding, effectively pausing the proposal for further review.
Bamford also said the township has "just started down" research related to data centers and will take a leadership role in facilitating information sharing. She noted that the township, together with the Montgomery County Association of Township Officials and vice chair Beth Staub, is hosting a meeting to discuss data‑center impacts and best practices for municipalities.
The podcast included no formal motion text or recorded vote tallies for these items. The backyard‑chicken measure was described as previously approved with limitations; the feeding‑animals proposal was described as paused pending EAC review; and data‑center work was described as an ongoing research and outreach effort. The township encouraged residents to reach out by email or attend meetings for more information and said staff capacity and outside consultants are being used when projects require additional research.
Next steps described on the podcast include EAC review of the feeding‑animals proposal, continued staff research on data centers and planned stakeholder meetings hosted in town for further discussion.
