Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
A proposed ordinance allowing backyard chickens within city limits flew through the Shawano Plan Commission without resistance Wednesday and now goes to the Shawano Common Council.
The commission voted unanimously to recommend the ordinance, after some discussions of its workings and the addition of language mandated by the state that requires city chicken-owners to register the with Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
The vote comes three years after the Common Council voted 4-2 against the same proposed ordinance, even after an 8-1 recommendation by the commission.
Several seats on the commission and the council have changed hands since 2014, along with the mayor’s office, now held by Jeanne Cronce, leaving open the possibility for a different outcome this time around. The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.
The ordinance would overturn the city’s ban on urban poultry and adopt a new ordinance allowing up to four chickens, but no roosters, on a single-family detached dwelling.
The ordinance as drafted in 2014 would require chicken owners to get a permit from the city and approval in writing from their neighbors.
Sanitary enclosures would be required that would have to be kept clean, ventilated and predator-proof.
The proposed ordinance also sets down regulations for the size and location of chicken coops and requires feed to be kept in rodent- and predator-proof containers.
Permits would be good for one year and could be revoked by the Common Council on the recommendation of the city clerk or building inspector.
Scott Krueger, a dietitian and Shawano resident, first brought the chicken proposal to the plan commission in May 2014.
After re-introducing it at a plan commission meeting last month, Krueger said he was optimistic the ordinance could be passed this time.
“I think there are a lot of people in the community that are in favor of this, and I think people have brought that to the council’s attention,” he said. “I think this should be seen as something the community wants and not just one or two people.”