Debate rises over proposed North Huntingdon backyard chicken rules

After several North Huntingdon residents asked the municipality to permit chickens in residential neighborhoods, township officials appeared split over implementing rules that would allow hens to be raised on parcels less than a quarter acre.

During an hour-long public hearing Tuesday, about a dozen residents supporting a proposed ordinance to permit up to six hens on a parcel of at least 10,000 square feet in a district zoned residential. The current ordinance requires at least 10 acres in order to raise chickens. An earlier draft of the ordinance under consideration would have made chickens illegal on property of less than one acre. Hen houses must be at least 20 feet from the property line and 40 feet from any adjacent building.

Craig Yurchison, one of two residents cited by the township for having chickens on smaller parcels, said during the hearing that chickens can be raised cleanly in a backyard and that any odor a handful of chickens might produce is minimal. Yurchison presented a petition containing more than 2,000 signatures supporting backyard chickens.

Armand Sperduto, another resident who testified, questioned how the township would enforce an ordinance governing chickens, claiming it does not enforce other existing ordinances.

The issue of permitting backyard chickens was raised seven years ago with a decent amount of support, but it failed to be adopted, said Brian Hall. He said he has wanted to raise chickens for close to a decade and believes an ordinance can be adopted to permit it.

“I’m just going to go ahead and do it,” Hall said.

Tom Kettering, however, said the existing ordinance should not be changed to permit the animals in neighborhoods.

Commissioners’ views

Commissioners could vote on the proposed ordinance at meeting scheduled Thursday or Sept. 16.

Zachary Haigis, board president, repeated his stance opposing chickens and other farm animals in residential neighborhoods. Haigis wanted the minimum lot size to be at least three acres.

The township probably would not be dealing with the issue of backyard chickens were it not for two residents who were cited for violating the current ordinance, which he described as “too loose.”

“People chose not to follow the current ordinance,” and the township received complaints about the chickens, Haigis said.

Rather than passing another ordinance, Haigis suggested making the raising of backyard chickens a special use in a residential neighborhood. That would require owners to go through a permitting process.

The proposed ordinance should be “tweaked” after all this discussion, said Commissioner Fran Bevan.

The commissioners and the township planning commission have debated the issue for two months.

“I think we are going to need to compromise a bit,” Commissioner Jason Atwood said following the meeting. When he visited some homes with chickens, Atwood said he was not even aware the animals were in the backyard when he arrived on the property.

Instead of creating regulations against raising chickens, Commissioner Eric Gass proposed a two-year moratorium that would permit people to have backyard chickens.

But, a two-year pilot program would have its own problems, said Commissioner Ronald Zona.

Enforcement creates problems for the staff and specialized training likely would be necessary for them to do the job, Zona said.

“It’s going to cost the township money” to enforce the regulations and the fees will not cover the cost, Zona said.

Commissioner Virginia Stump, however, disagreed that the staff would have to undergo specific training to enforce the ordinance. They only would have to follow a check list of what they must have to be in compliance.