Danbury zoning commission continues hearing on proposal to allow poultry as household pets after residents cite water-quality and nuisance risks

The Danbury Zoning Commission voted unanimously to continue a public hearing on a petition that would allow poultry to be kept as household pets on smaller residential lots, citing public concerns about water quality and enforcement.

Bridal Cedar, a Danbury real estate agent who said she submitted 295 signatures against the petition, told the commission the proposal would effectively allow livestock on densely divided lots and risk nutrient runoff into the Candlewood Lake watershed. "Poultry are not household pets," she said, arguing that state law treats poultry as livestock and pointing to local planning documents that call for protecting watershed water quality.

The petition under consideration would permit numbers of birds linked to lot size (the petitioner’s proposal lists 12 birds on quarter-acre lots and up to 16 on 1–2 acre lots, per public comment). Cedar testified that chicken manure is high in nitrogen and phosphorus, can attract pests, and may contaminate groundwater where properties lack municipal water. She urged the commission to deny the petition or, at minimum, exclude the Candlewood Lake watershed from any new allowance.

Attorney Marcus, representing the petitioner, said he had prepared an extensive rebuttal but was not prepared to present it that night and asked the commission to continue the hearing so he could review public input and potential modifications. "I have eight pages of notes to rebut; I don't really want to be here till 01:00 while I try to do that," he said, and signaled openness to withdrawing and resubmitting a revised petition after consulting staff.

A planning department representative told the commission it would be inappropriate to make substantive amendments "on the fly" without vetting or interdepartmental review and recommended the petitioner withdraw and work with staff and other departments to address the concerns raised at the hearing.

After discussion about whether to limit the continuation only to rebuttal or to keep the public hearing open for additional public comment, Commissioner Botello moved to continue the hearing as requested by the petitioner; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Nejame and the commission voted by voice to continue the public hearing. Chairman Pandat announced the public hearing is continued to Aug. 13, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.

The hearing’s continuation preserves the public's opportunity to respond to any substantive revisions and gives the petitioner and staff time to revise language and consider exemptions or protections for sensitive watersheds. The commission also announced forthcoming public hearings on unrelated petitions, including a restaurant liquor-license matter scheduled for Sept. 10, 2024.

Next steps: the petitioner may withdraw to work with staff and resubmit changes; the continued hearing is scheduled for Aug. 13, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.