The Hailey City Council will be confronted by the chicken-versus-egg question now that the Hailey Planning and Zoning Commission approved a package of "sustainability ordinances" at its regular meeting Tuesday night.
One of the ordinances encourages "urban agricultural practices" on lots of sufficient size, and allows raising five chickens for eggs per household. At a previous P&Z meeting, City Planner Mariel Platt had suggested that three chickens per household would be enough to provide eggs for a family of four. At Tuesday's meeting, Dick Springs of Bellevue, who raises 90 chickens and sells up to 40 dozen eggs at the Hailey Farmers Market in summer, informed the commission that three chickens are not enough. Springs recommended six chickens per household, pointing out the danger of predation and the fact that a chicken is at its egg-production peak for only one to three years.
Springs said he is in favor of the ordinance and stated that household chicken coops are not in competition with him as he easily sells all the eggs he produces. He also pointed out that "You can't really buy chickens easily." Springs suggested that white leghorn chickens (named after Livorno, Italy) are the most popular commercial breed, produce more eggs than other breeds and likely could provide enough eggs for a family of four, but are suitable only for large-scale, commercial egg production in cages, not for family chicken coops in the backyard. Several other breeds are superior for that, he said.
Asked by Commissioner Owen Scanlon why she had suggested three chickens previously, Platt replied that she was "trying to be diplomatic."
The commission compromised and voted to approve five chickens per household.
Other sustainability ordinances approved by the commission involved standards for solar panels and small wind energy systems, allowing accessory dwelling units within the Limited Residential district, requiring landscape plantings used in multi-family and non-residential developments to be drought-tolerant species and clarifying the standard for increasing energy efficiency in buildings.
Nearly 20 citizens attended the meeting and the majority of those who spoke were wholeheartedly in favor of the ordinances.
"I'm psyched about chickens in the backyard and I commend the commission for moving toward sustainable laws," said Kaz Thea, who runs the Hailey Farmers Market. "We need to move toward becoming more green in everything we do."
Heisi Albrecht, a single mother of three, said she used to have eight or nine chickens when she lived in Bellevue and that she was very excited to have chickens in Hailey now.
"It's a great way for Hailey to move forward," she said.
Kelly Jackson, director of outreach and communication for Citizens for Smart Growth, spoke out for accessory dwelling units, pointing out they are both energy and economically efficient.
Among other business, David Lloyd was sworn in as a new P&Z commissioner by Hailey Deputy Clerk Becky Mead.
