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Residents press council to consider allowing backyard chickens; council to schedule workshop discussion
Summary
Multiple residents urged the council to consider allowing backyard chickens; speakers cited community-building, education for children, eggs and experiences used in other communities. Council indicated staff will bring the topic to a future workshop for broader discussion.
Several residents used the public-comment period to urge the council to consider allowing backyard chickens in Charles City.
Michael Smith, who said he had his name on the agenda, introduced Tony (a Floyd County resident and business owner who does work in Charles City) to speak. Tony described benefits of backyard poultry — from teaching responsibility to providing eggs and building community ties — and said some nearby towns allow chickens with reasonable restrictions. "If managed appropriately, they can be like any other pet," he said, adding that communities sometimes limit flocks or restrict roosters to reduce noise concerns.
Other residents spoke in support: a neighbor who lives next door to an existing flock described the birds as clean and well cared for; Lauren Cowarts and Nathan Huffman voiced support for a conservative ordinance (for example, a limit of three to six birds and setbacks of roughly 10 feet from property lines). Council members said staff would review examples from other communities and planned to place the topic on a workshop agenda for more open discussion.
What happens next: Staff will gather ordinance examples and present the topic at a future planning workshop (likely April 15 or a rescheduled date) for broader council discussion and potential drafting of an ordinance.
