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Powell River residents call foul on more fowls

City examines regulations and stricter bylaws on poultry
City of Powell River clerk Chris Jackson
CHICKEN COUNSEL: City of Powell River clerk Chris Jackson is currently reviewing the city’s animal control bylaw, which will include restrictions and regulations on keeping chickens in the city. David Brindle photo

After learning that City of Powell River was considering raising the number of chickens people can have at their homes, it ruffled some residents’ feathers. The anti-chicken lobby went before the city’s committee of the whole on June 5.

There has been no regard for all property owners, not just those who want more chickens allowed, according to Powell River resident Sylvie Butler.

Butler, Terry Munday and Harry Raimondo all told the committee that part of their strong opposition to chickens is how close the coops are to neighbouring houses and what they attract, such as rats, flies, raccoons and bears.

“My neighbours put their hen house adjacent to my house, 20 feet from my kitchen window,” said Butler.

Where Butler lives in Cranberry, the bylaw allows for 24 chickens per property.

Councillor Jim Palm said he visited Butler’s residence to see the basis of her complaint firsthand.

“We have an issue here when it comes to our bylaw if someone in our community can get away with this; that’s nonsense,” said Palm. “There has to be some regulations around proximity.”

The problem is no smaller in Westview and Townsite, where people can keep only three chickens, according to Munday.

“I have a small property,” he said. “The property adjacent to me has the bylaw of three chickens.”

In Munday’s case, he said the coop is 12 feet from his kitchen door and 11 feet from his deck.

“I mentioned to the property owner that this would not be a good place to put their chicken coop,” said Munday. “I’ve made a couple of complaints.”

Munday agreed with Butler that permits to keep chickens should be issued on a house-to-house basis but.

“But if I had my way, I’d call for the elimination of all chickens in town,” said Munday.

City clerk Chris Jackson is currently reviewing the bylaw and his report back to council will not just be a recommendation on increasing the number of chickens people can keep in the coop.

“Within that direction I’m also looking at appropriate regulations that include distance from anyone’s house,” said Jackson. “What I’m going to bring back is just not an increase to the number.”