Planning Board Workshop Turns To Talk Of Roosters In The Henhouse

Tuesday night's Planning Board workshop saw several residents turn out to examine, among other things, the Town zoning ordinance pertaining to the regulation of domestic fowl on residential properties.

In a letter submitted to the Town Council in June, Biscuit City Road resident Gerralyn Perry voiced her concern with the town’s lack of an ordinance regulating the number of domestic fowl on residential properties.

“My experience in my own neighborhood has caused me and my family the loss of enjoyment and value of our home and property due to the current ordinance which allows roosters and does not limit the number of hens that can be raised,” Perry stated in her letter to the Council, asking them to consider amendments to Providence and Barrington zoning ordinance addressing fowl in residential areas.

The Barrington ordinance to which Perry referred many times during dialogue between residents and planning board members, limits the number of hens allowed on a house lot to six (6) and is expressly prohibitive of roosters. Barrington also is restrictive as to henhouse structures, fenced enclosures and location of coops.

Calling attention to community values, Perry asked that the board take her request into account in a neighborly tone, considering the noise nuisance made by the animals.

“Neighbors who don’t want to hear roosters, shouldn’t have to,” affirmed Perry’s husband.

“It isn’t neighborly to ask someone to give up a family pet because you don’t like it,” returned Lea Rubinstein, a proponent of chicken ownership. “People keep chickens as pets, also. They show them, win ribbons."

Ruth Anderson of Nichols Road and neighbor to the Perry family presently has 15 hens. “We don’t have any roosters at this time. We had one rooster for years and that rooster died. There was one time we had eggs that hatched. The eggs produced roosters that have since been given away. “

Joining the group of fowl-friendly residents was Representative Teresa Tanzi, (D-34) who has a 3X3 mobile coop on her property, housing 4 hens and a young rooster.

“I’m coming clean," she said. "I thought I had done my due diligence. I live on a small lot and do not have the 40ft set-back requirement.”

Tanzi, who worked in the past with the Casey Farm Project Chick Program through Historic New England and the SPNEA, decided to bring her knowledge and respect for heritage breed chickens to her home, as a gift and learning experience for her daughter. An educator, promulgating the breeding of Dominique chickens, Tanzi travelled around the state, promoting classroom hatcheries. A natural transition from classroom to home, she chose chickens as an alternative to a traditional pet.

“I called the Town and told them where I lived and asked about requirements. I was told to talk to my neighbors – to be a good neighbor,” she said.

Commandeering 27 chicks through a hatch with friends, the Tanzis raised the fowl, culling out all but one of the boys and gifting the majority of the flock to others who share in the belief of growing one’s own food and promoting the local food movement.

At issue for the dissenters, is the town zoning ordinance concerning livestock, which does not contain restrictive language as to the number of chickens or fowl allowed on residential property. Any change to the zoning ordinance and its potential impact on farming and its land use, is subject to Chapter 10.5 , Notification to Farmers, mandated by R.I.G.L. 1956, 2-23.1-1. 

In explaining the process taken in public notice and hearings, Nancy Letendre, Legal Counsel cautioned those in attendance, “This is not going to happen right away. There will be more meetings like this – more public hearings. It will be a long process. You won’t see it happening next month.”

Industrial 1 District Zoning Regulations

Also on the agenda was discussion of allowed uses in the Industrial-1 District, with the new owner of the , Eric Thunberg, appearing to peruse possible commercial uses for occupants of his complex.

Current resident, Twisted Throttle, manufacturer of custom bolt-on touring bike accessories is once again expanding its business. It’s specialty, research, design and manufacture of prototype motorcycle parts and accessories, is in need of a use change that would allow for the retail sale of motorcycles.

“Not to be confused with a full-fledge dealership, Twisted Throttle, is seeking an allowance to sell those motorcycles purchased for use during design and testing stage,” said Economic Development Committee member Deedre Durocher, touting the companies many qualities during a previous work session. “The dilemma is when the prototype gets completed and placed on a motorcycle.“

Owner Erik Stephens was not present at the prior meeting and was travelling this week per Thunberg. In order to advance his business and allow for the sale of the prototype outfitted bikes, Stephens would need a use code change to allow him to obtain a dealer’s license.

The EDC, through Durocher and fellow commission member Susan Marcus, was supportive of proactively advancing the needs of the business as an incentive to keep South Kingstown and Palisades its choice of location. “They are looking  elsewhere," Durocher noted.

Thunberg in addressing the accessory retail use, assured the board that his intentions were not to turn the complex towards retail. “It is my intention to keep the Mill complex 100% commercial.”

The Board further questioned Thunberg as to the potential for a “doggy daycare” facility on the premises. “There is plenty of space for both the internal operations and the external exercise area. The nature of the building, with several feet of stone buffering between residents, alleviates any concern of nuisance noise within.

“The mill naturally provides for minimal impact internally and externally. Any area deemed appropriate for external use would have little to no impact on the surrounding neighborhood, “ Thunberg noted. “The tenant would be responsible for meeting all regulations and state health requirements.”

Comprehensive Plan

L. Vincent Murray, Director of Planning noted that the Comprehensive Plan updates are on schedule, with those items dependent on Census data release in the final stages. In discussing the Growth Management portion of the program, Murray noted that there may be some adjustment to the town’s Affordable Housing mandate numbers due to census calculations. 

The next scheduled meeting of the Planning Board is August 9, 2011 in Town Council chambers.