02-18-2025 Planning Commission Packet (2)

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are kept and how impacts (i.e. sound, smell, visual, etc.) will be mitigated. “ Here is additional information: The coop, including the enclosed fenced in area, is approximately 6’ x 9’ (this is different from the 8’ x 8’ dimension we stated in our original application). The proposed location of the pigeon coop is in the southeast corner of the property. Specifically, the proposed location is 35 feet from the east property line and 55 feet from the south property line. See the scanned attached survey on which the proposed pigeon coop is shown. Pigeons tolerate winter conditions well and the coop will not be heated, nor will it be lighted because as soon as the sun sets the pigeons fall asleep. The proposed coop is small in size and not visible from the road or the neighbor’s property to the north so the visual impact of the proposed structure is minimal. Here is additional background information: Our tenants are war refugees from Ukraine who reside at 430 East Long Lake Road. They include a father, mother, son, daughter-in-law and grandson who attends 5th grade in the Orono school district. The father started raising pigeons in Ukraine since he was six years old and it has been his hobby for 55 years. The coop he would like to build is the same type of pigeon coop that had in Ukraine. He would start with eight pigeons and eventually keep no more than 30 in the coop. There are many different pigeon breeds, and the type he intends to raise here are like the ones he raised in Ukraine which are NOT homing pigeons but instead are show pigeons bred for their beauty and exhibitions. I’ve attached two pictures of the breed. These show pigeons are kept enclosed in the fenced in, unheated outdoor coop and are not released or free to fly outside the coop. The birds are quite quiet; they do not screech or crow, but they occasionally mummer and coo. Because the pigeons are quite quiet and given the proposed location of the coop, the sound impact of the pigeon coop is minimal. The tenants have a large garden in the backyard where they grow vegetables. The father will clean the coop daily and any pigeon droppings will be used to fertilize the garden. Using the pigeons' droppings as garden fertilizer was their practice in Ukraine where the father was a farmer growing vegetables and seedlings for sale in the local market. (He also worked for a railroad.) The smell of the pigeon droppings is barely detectable. Given the minimal smell of the pigeon droppings and the proposed plan to use the droppings in their garden, the impact of smell from the proposed pigeon coop is minimal. While in Ukraine, the father was a member of pigeon breeding associations, and with the approval of this conditional use permit, he would care for pigeons at 430 East Long Lake Road and then he will be eligible and intends to join pigeon associations in Minnesota and nearby regions. Members of these associations often trade and exchange pigeons with each other and hold pigeon exhibitions. As stated earlier in this text, the father plans to start with 8 pigeons and would limit his pigeons to 30, trading or gifting away any pigeons in excess of 30 to other association members. 218