- Aug 18, 2013
- 4
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In a few weeks I will be headed to the Zoning Board of Appeals to obtain a special use permit for "up to 4 hens" in a residential zone. We live on 0.73 acres.
I think I have all my bases covered, and I have noticed that others have obtained a special use permit, which cost $100 to try, under sub-combinations of the following points. Am I missing anything?
1) Coop looks good and will not be close to the property line. No impact on your property value or neighbor's property value
2) Promise to keep coop clean, and you have a solution for burying the poop (4 hens generate less poop than average sized dog)
3) Don't try for more than 4 hens
4) No roosters
5) Containment area for hens. "free range is fine if you have a fence."
6) Show some knowledge: Limit the breeds of chickens to breeds that tend to not be flighty, tend to be calm, quiet, cold hardy, etc.
7) You believe in sustainable living. Adds credibility if you have a garden
8) You want to teach your kids how to care for chickens, respect them, and get food from them (eggs)
9) You will not raise the chickens for meat and no killing of chickens will happen on property
10) You have checked with the neighbors and they support (if you can get this one - great)
11) You have studied chicken diseases and you will be quick to take your chicken to a Vet as needed.
12) Chicken food will be stored in protected container
13) Open to inspections at any time
14) Biosecurity: you want to control your food chain; know where your food is coming from
15) Natural fertilizer is better than putting chemicals on your lawn (which so many others do)
16) Check any deed restrictions and follow them if you have to (e.g. the coop will have the same look as the house).
17) You will not run a business (sell the eggs, raise/sell chicks, raise chickens for meat)
18) Have a solution for keeping away predators (dog, fence) and state that your hens will not attract predators
19) Talk about how your chickens will add to a farming spirit for the neighborhood
20) Talk about the problems with factory-farmed poultry (cruel, disease, etc...) and you can't tolerate it
21) Talk about the nutritional value of eggs from happy hens
Thanks!
Longcreek Drive, Burnt Hills, New York
I think I have all my bases covered, and I have noticed that others have obtained a special use permit, which cost $100 to try, under sub-combinations of the following points. Am I missing anything?
1) Coop looks good and will not be close to the property line. No impact on your property value or neighbor's property value
2) Promise to keep coop clean, and you have a solution for burying the poop (4 hens generate less poop than average sized dog)
3) Don't try for more than 4 hens
4) No roosters
5) Containment area for hens. "free range is fine if you have a fence."
6) Show some knowledge: Limit the breeds of chickens to breeds that tend to not be flighty, tend to be calm, quiet, cold hardy, etc.
7) You believe in sustainable living. Adds credibility if you have a garden
8) You want to teach your kids how to care for chickens, respect them, and get food from them (eggs)
9) You will not raise the chickens for meat and no killing of chickens will happen on property
10) You have checked with the neighbors and they support (if you can get this one - great)
11) You have studied chicken diseases and you will be quick to take your chicken to a Vet as needed.
12) Chicken food will be stored in protected container
13) Open to inspections at any time
14) Biosecurity: you want to control your food chain; know where your food is coming from
15) Natural fertilizer is better than putting chemicals on your lawn (which so many others do)
16) Check any deed restrictions and follow them if you have to (e.g. the coop will have the same look as the house).
17) You will not run a business (sell the eggs, raise/sell chicks, raise chickens for meat)
18) Have a solution for keeping away predators (dog, fence) and state that your hens will not attract predators
19) Talk about how your chickens will add to a farming spirit for the neighborhood
20) Talk about the problems with factory-farmed poultry (cruel, disease, etc...) and you can't tolerate it
21) Talk about the nutritional value of eggs from happy hens
Thanks!
Longcreek Drive, Burnt Hills, New York
