Clinton postpones decision on chicken ordinance

CLINTON — It took two tries over two days to table discussion on a proposed ordinance allowing chickens in Clinton residential areas.

But finally, at 12:12 a.m. Wednesday, Clinton City Councilman David Pearson's motion to table the ordinance had three supporters.

And city staff, residents and council members could finally get some sleep and dream of talking chickens in two weeks.

About 95 residents attended Tuesday's meeting, more than the 70 who attended a public meeting the previous week regarding $83,000 the city lost when Centennial Bank failed in March.

Discussion on the chicken ordinance began at 8 p.m. Tuesday with a review of the ordinance, which would allow residents to keep chickens for home food production as long as they meet certain requirements for the placement of a chicken coop in the backyard.

A public hearing followed, and most of the residents who addressed the council said they would like the city to allow chickens. After the public hearing closed at 10:15 p.m., the council began debating each line of the ordinance and making revisions.

A recommendation from the Clinton Planning Commission requiring chicken coops to be placed at least 25 feet from property lines was changed to 10 feet, and the council removed permission for residential areas to have any other kinds of fowl.

At 10:55 p.m., Pearson moved to table the ordinance to address other items on the agenda, but the motion failed and the council took a break for other items instead.

At 11:47 p.m., debate about fencing and whether to require a separate outdoor enclosure for chickens resumed, followed by another motion to table at 12:12 a.m. Wednesday.

Some residents said they preferred to stay and hash out the details with the council, but the motion passed. The council will resume discussion about allowing chickens in residential areas at its April 27 meeting. That meeting won't include a public hearing.

e-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com