Hens granted home, but City Hall can still say ‘no’

Family living on the city’s edge allowed 6 chickens

By Kate Hayden

khayden@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Council approved a request to raise chickens within city limits during Monday’s meeting.

The request from Jack and Kerri Tynan had sparked a second look at the city’s animal ordinance in comparison so-called “urban chicken” policies being considered statewide.

The Tynans live on the edge of Charles City and requested permission to raise six hens as an environmental project for their family. Current city code prohibits residents from raising livestock animals, but allows the City Council to grant special permission on a case-by-case basis.

The council granted their request with the stipulation that it may review or revoke permission should the hens become problematic to the wider community, City Attorney Ralph Smith said.

“At this point, unlike a zoning change, we can revoke this at any time,” Smith said.

Councilman Jerry Joerger voted against approval, with the concern that allowing chickens within city limits may set a problematic precedent for the council.

“I respect the request and I respect us trying to meet it, but I think we’re opening a door and we’re going to have a lot more (requests), and I think there’s a reason the code is written that way,” Joerger said.

“Considering the neighborhood, this seems to fit within the aura of possibility,” Councilman Michael Hammond said. “I see no problem at all.”

Other business

The council formally approved construction of the new dog park project at Waverly Hill Park, led by Girl Scout Troop 20535 and the Charles City Parks and Recreation board.

The Girl Scouts are working within a May 31 deadline to complete the first stage of their vision, by fencing off a smaller portion of the park near Sixth Street with USDA grant funds. The Scouts will broaden fenced-space as they receive more community and private grant support.

When the project is completed, the USDA-funded space will be designated solely for small dogs, and the final project will have about 1,450 square feet of usable space.

Charles City will continue partnering with Community Revitalization as a member community of Main Street Iowa, the city council decided Monday evening.

The two-year agreement approved by the Charles City Council will cost a total of $21,000, including the $16,000 for state program support and the $5,000 to Community Revitalization for their administration support. Funding support comes from the Riverside TIF district.