LEWISTON — Councilors said Tuesday night that they are open to allowing laying hens throughout the city, with the right restrictions.
Residents in the rural agriculture zone who live on lots of at least three acres can keep chickens. Chickens are not allowed elsewhere.
Shelly Suzuki of 16 Champlain Ave. started a citizen petition to allow families to keep up to six laying hens on any 20,000-square-foot lot — just less than half an acre — that contains a single-family dwelling, including a mobile home.
Suzuki, who keeps four chickens on her 20,000-square-foot lot, said she’s not the only one.
“And the only reason I’m doing this is to clear up the city codes,” Suzuki said.
Suzuki said she collected 25 signatures to get the matter before the City Council. Some signers were residents who keep chickens and think they are within their rights.
She blamed different sections of city zoning ordinances that have different legal descriptions for chickens. Most residents who have chickens are aware of one section, but not the other.
“I actually had to argue with people that kept chickens that it was not allowed,” she said. “They kept pointing to that one chapter. So, they signed, but I’m not sure they believed that I’m right.”
Members of the Planning Board reviewed Suzuki’s plan in April and voted against it, sending it to the City Council. Councilors reviewed it May 3 but decided they needed a workshop to discuss the idea before voting on it.
“We’re talking six chickens here,” Councilor Jim Lysen said at Tuesday’s workshop. “We don’t need to make this burdensome on people.”
Councilors have considered changes to city ordinances and zoning codes twice before. A plan from 2014 would have allowed residents on lots of up to half an acre to keep up to six laying hens, with larger lots allowed to keep more birds.
On Tuesday, councilors said they had few problems with Suzuki’s idea but wanted more details. They want information on lot sizes, ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 square feet, and a plan for creating a one-time permit to keep track of homes.
“I’m fine with that being a $25 to $30 one-time fee,” Councilor Kristen Cloutier said. “And then I want to make sure we are keeping up with complaints and enforcements.”
City Administrator Ed Barrett said staff will come up with a proposal for councilors to review, before sending it back to the Planning Board.
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