DeWitt considering allowing chickens

TOWN OF DEWITT – The DeWitt Town Board is weighing whether to follow the town of Manlius’ lead in allowing small flocks of chickens in residential neighborhoods.
Last week, a group of residents attended the DeWitt Town Board meeting to advocate for chickens in the town. Also, nearly 700 people have signed a petition that has been circulating online supporting changing the town code to allow chickens.
Supervisor Ed Michalenko said the board will take a cautious approach and reach out to the public for additional input. While acknowledging the sustainability benefits of owning chickens and the potential for reducing tick populations, he also expressed concern about the costs of enforcing a chicken code and the potential for chickens becoming a nuisance.
“If we have an ordinance, it’s my particular opinion that we have to build into that ordinance the ability to deal with complaints,” Michalenko said. “I’m not saying no to chickens, but we need to think of every scenario. We need to do our homework”
Backyard chickens have become very popular in recent years, and several municipalities, including the town of Manlius and the village of Fayetteville, have changed their code to allow for chickens in non-agricultural zones. In Fayetteville, a permit is required for flocks no larger than 12 birds and plans for a coop must be approved by village trustees. In the town of Manlius, a permit is not required, but the size of a potential flock is limited by the 50-square-foot maximum size of the coop. Manlius also allowed pygmy goats in their code.
Michalenko said the town would publicize the potential chicken code and plan informational meetings to get additional input. Even if allowing chickens has widespread appeal, he said, if the reasons not to do it are compelling enough, the board may not move forward with it.
“We will go against public consensus if we feel it’s in the best interest of the public,” Michalenko said. “It’s not a popularity contest.