Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ordinance And Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission introduces ordinance to ban odor nuisances; resident urges clearer guidance on backyard-chicken petitions
Summary
Commissioners introduced Ordinance 24-05 to prohibit odor nuisances and scheduled a Jan. 22, 2025 public hearing; during public comment, resident Di Quynn-Reno asked for clarification on earlier remarks about petition thresholds to allow chickens and urged the town to consider permitting them under rules used by nearby towns.
President Al Hardee moved to introduce Ordinance 24-05, which would repeal and replace Chapter 7 of the Queenstown Code to establish a prohibition on odor nuisances. Commissioner Thomas Willis seconded the motion, and the commission voted 3-0 to introduce the ordinance. A public hearing on Ordinance 24-05 was scheduled for Jan. 22, 2025.
During the public-comment period, resident Di Quynn-Reno of 6740 Main St. asked for clarification about prior comments from President Hardee concerning the petition threshold for placing a referendum on the ballot to allow backyard chickens. Reno said she believes chickens do not reduce property values and cited examples of nearby towns that allow chickens under conditions, including Trappe and Centreville. President Hardee clarified that his earlier remarks represented his personal opinion about the level of support he would need to back such a request and acknowledged he should have been clearer that those comments were not the town's official position. Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan offered to provide the Trappe chicken ordinance to the commission for review.
Why it matters: The ordinance would create a new regulatory tool to address odor complaints if adopted; the public comment raises a separate local zoning/code issue about backyard poultry that commissioners may consider through code changes or a referendum.
Next steps: A public hearing on Ordinance 24-05 will be held on Jan. 22, 2025. The commission may review the Trappe ordinance provided by the town attorney and determine whether to pursue a code amendment or other action on backyard chickens.
