Channahon Debates Allowing Backyard Chickens

CHANNAHON, IL - Village officials in Channahon are ready to begin debating whether to allow backyard chickens in this growing community of 12,600 near Joliet. A public hearing on the topic is expected at Channahon's next planning commission meeting, 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11. Channahon Village Administrator Tom Durkin said he has spent several weeks researching the pros and cons of the issue.

Historically, Channahon has only allowed chickens within areas zoned for agricultural and rural homes.

"This ordinance is looking at all residential zones and properties used for single-family homes," Durkin told Channahon-Minooka Patch. However, "we're not suggesting any apartment buildings, townhomes or condominiums would have chickens. Just residential single family."

Durkin came to Channahon in 2014 after serving as village administrator in Crete. Before that, he was planning director for Tinley Park.

Regardless of whether people are in favor raising backyard chickens or dead-set against the measure, Durkin stressed that everyone is strongly encouraged to attend the Sept. 11 public hearing in front of the planning commission to make their voice heard.

The planning and zoning commission will weigh public feedback before making its recommendation to the Channahon Village Board, which has final say on the matter.

One key issue Channahon will have to consider is whether to impose a cap on the number of chickens that someone can have in their yard. Another issue would concern appropriate fencing, to make sure chickens aren't roaming wild throughout their subdivision.

Tom Durkin

It's possible, Durkin said, Channahon may adopt an ordinance that allows for backyard chickens as part of a pilot program. Under that scenario, Channahon may set a lid on the number of permits it would issue for village residents desiring to raise backyard chickens. That way, during the first year, Channahon can "see what problems might arise or lack thereof, " Durkin said.

The issue of people raising backyard chickens has come up in several Chicago-area communities.

Last October, the city of Wheaton rejected a proposal to allow for backyard chickens. However, that same Patch article pointed out that a number of suburban communities currently allow backyard chickens including: Batavia, Burr Ridge, Downers Grove, Bensenville, Naperville, Oak Brook, Downers Grove, St. Charles, Warrenville, Wayne and Wood Dale.

For now, anyway, village officials in Channahon appear open-minded about the prospect of allowing their residents to raise backyard chickens. "Right now, we're finalizing a draft amendment, and I look at it as a (flexible) document," Durkin said.

File image via Patch

Image of Village Administrator Tom Durkin via Channahon