09/24/2012 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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1VIINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING - Monday,September 24,2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. (4. ROOSTERS-POTENTIAL ANIMAL ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, Continued) of code revisions could be to merely prohibit the keeping of roosters anywhere in the City. This would be consistent with the intent of Orono's Rural Residential zoning. In that case, Staff would recommend that the language of Chapter 62, Section 62-9,Animal Limits, be amended to include language that prohibits roosters. Gaffron noted the City's Comprehensive Plan talks about the concept of a rural area that is turning into a rural residential area and addresses the type of action the City should take in the future. "The City is growing in population from a rural agricultural community to a rural residential community. Use of the land for residential purposes is considered primary,with other uses viewed as supporting this use. Present commercial or industrial activity where consistent with residential use and other guiding principles will be protected by ordinance or conditional use permit. It is not the intention to expand or allow all such commercial or industrial activity where it conflicts with the primary residential use and other guiding principles. The continued use of the land for farming and similar purposes will be protected by ordinance or conditional use permit where sufficient acreage allows such use to continue without conflict with expanding residential use." Gaffron stated one of the charges that the City Council has is to consider whether or not the expansion of residential use,even the low density rural area, has reached a point where it may be time to look at whether or not some of these quasi-agricultural uses are impacting residential use. Pending the outcome of the noise violation litigation, Staff recommends that no further regulation of chickens or fowl be considered at this time as Staff believes there are no demonstrated issues that cannot be addressed through enforcement of existing ordinances. Mayor McMillan concurred that Orono has changed over the years and is becoming more residential, which could potentially lead to some conflicts. Mayor McMillan opened the meeting for public comment. Laura Shatzer,3685 Watertown Road,thanked the City Council and Staff for addressing their complaints about the continuous sound of roosters crowing. Shatzer stated she would like to explain her reasons for why they think the citizens and residents would benefit from prohibiting roosters. A number of other local cities and towns around Orono, such as Shorewood,Minnetonka,Loretto,Delano,Watertown and others, have all banned roosters or placed restrictions on them. Shatzer stated Mr.Gaffron's August 15th report was very thorough and they are in agreement with a potential amendment prohibiting roosters. Shatzer stated she understands if the Zoning Code or zoning ordinance is amended, existing roosters would be grandfathered and this would have no affect on resolving their current problem that they are having with their neighbor's roosters. Shatzer indicated they have tried for over a year to work out a peaceful resolution with their neighbor to the roosters crowing. The crowing began in the spring of 2011 and they were very patient and friendly in their contacts with the neighbor regarding the roosters. Shatzer stated getting along with their neighbors is very important to them and that they are under the belief that you should consider your neighbors in all that you do and be respectful of their space and right to quiet enjoyment of their property. All neighborhoods have periodic sounds, but it is the daily,continuous bombardment of loud, unpleasant Page 6 of 12