Lake Bluff committee approves backyard chicken permit for new resident

The Lake Bluff Sustainability and Community Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee on May 19 voted to recommend approval of a backyard animal license allowing resident Lucy Kola Vincentzo to keep chickens at 186 West Scranton.

Vincentzo told the committee she and her family have been in Lake Bluff about six months and applied because “once I found out we could have chickens in Lake Bluff, I was like, we’re doing it.” She said the flock would be kept for pleasure and eggs and that she plans to keep “somewhere between like three to five hens,” within the village’s stated minimum of two and maximum of six.

Staff reported that Shelton inspected the coop, found it met requirements, and that the application was circulated to adjacent property owners. Committee members were told there are currently 13 accessory animal licenses in town; approving this application would bring the total to 14 under the village cap of 15. The committee recorded no submitted objections from neighbors.

A motion to approve the application was moved and seconded. In a roll-call approval, the members present voted in favor: Member Bushia; Member Mingle Cook; Member Twitchell; and Chair R. The committee issued a positive recommendation; Shelton noted the village administrator holds final signature authority on the permit.

Members discussed the existing cap and noted the committee can recommend code amendments or adjustments as demand grows. The committee also asked staff to remind current permit holders that charging for eggs or services would violate the code; members emphasized that gifting eggs is permissible but sales would cross the village’s licensing rules.

The committee’s positive recommendation will be forwarded to the village administrator for final signature.