After months of wrangling and heated debate, North Huntingdon officials are close to reaching a consensus on how to regulate the raising of chickens in a residential neighborhood, which sets the stage for a vote on Wednesday.

Four of the seven commissioners said they would be in favor of letting people raise a maximum of four chickens in neighborhood zoned for residential purposes, if they obtain a conditional use permit.

Commissioners Zachary Haigis, Brian Blasko, Ronald Zona and Jason Atwood said Thursday they would support making residents get the conditional use permit to have chickens — no roosters — by amending an ordinance that requires homeowners have 10 acres of property in a residential neighborhood in order to raise chickens.

Commissioners Eric Gass and Virginia Stump contended that adopting an ordinance to replace the existing regulation would be better and less burdensome on township staff that would review the permit, than going the route of a conditional use permit.

Commissioner Fran Bevan did not commit to supporting the conditional use permit, saying she wanted to see the wording of the regulation. A chicken coop would have to be 40 feet from a neighbor’s residence and 20 feet from the property line and kept in a coop, based on discussions about backyard chickens over the past few months.

Obtaining a conditional use permit would cost residents more than if the township passed an ordinance that carries a $50 fee, Stump said.

A public hearing must be advertised at a cost of $340 for those seeking a conditional use permit, said Ryan Fonzi, township planning director. A court reporter must record testimony, said Bruce Dice, township solicitor. The court reporter’s fee is typically $240.

Residents of low- and moderate-income who want chickens, may not be able afford the higher fee, Stump said.

“You guys did this to us. This is your burden to carry,” Gass said, referring to supporters of the conditional use permit, rather than favoring a revised ordinance.

“I don’t want to go back to that can of worms — ordinance vs. conditional use,” Blasko said, referring the past several months of debate over how to regulate raising backyard chickens.

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