Wednesday, February 4, 2009

A chicken in every lot?

Hailey could become a poultry-friendly city


By TONY EVANS
Express Staff Writer

A Fox in the hen house. Julie Fox-Jones checks on her birds on Fox Acres Road. Photo by Willy Cook

Hailey could soon become a chicken-friendly city if the planning department is successful in implementing a package of "sustainability ordinances" introduced to the Planning and Zoning Commission in January.

There will be no roosters crowing at the crack of dawn, only fresh eggs for a town seeking ways to improve its economic circumstances.

"These ordinance changes represent economic issues as well as environmental issues," said City Planner Mariel Platt. "They are a way to make the city more sustainable."

The Hailey Planning Department researched city sustainability ordinances in Washington, Oregon and Colorado before presenting a four-part series of ordinance amendments to the P&Z.

The proposed changes are aimed at increasing housing densities, encouraging the development of renewable energy sources, and allowing for so-called "urban agricultural practices," including the raising of chickens for eggs.

Three chickens per household would be allowed under the ordinance changes, enough to provide a family of four with fresh eggs throughout the year. The hens would also consume about nine pounds of kitchen waste each, per month.

Roosters would be prohibited from the city due to their early morning cock-a-doodle-doos, which would violate the city's nuisance ordinance.

Julie Fox-Jones has kept chickens for years on Fox Acres Road in Hailey. Her father, John Fox, once raised thousands of chickens and sold eggs throughout the Wood River Valley.

"Foxes are a problem, and so are dogs," said Fox Jones, who keeps three chickens and a rooster fenced in a coop. "But we get plenty of eggs and give some away. Roosters are obnoxious and unnecessary, unless someone wants fertilized eggs. We had one that used to chase the kids around the yard."

Fox-Jones composts her chickens' manure for use in her garden.

The sustainability ordinance package put forward by the planning department also provides for the building of accessory dwelling units, also popularly known as "mother-in-law" units, in the Limited Residential zone of the city, and the use of solar- and wind-powered electrical generation systems.

To pass the ordinance changes, the city will have to increase housing height limits for the specific use of household wind generators. Rooftop-mounted solar panels would be allowed across the city. Free-standing solar arrays would have to pass the conditional-use permit process.

"Allowing for accessory dwelling units will provide affordable housing in the city and help people pay their mortgages," Platt said.

The P&Z will continue deliberation on the sustainability ordinances at its next scheduled meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at Hailey City Hall,

Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.