Lake Bluff Backyard Chicken, Beekeeping Pilot Programs Approved

LAKE BLUFF, IL — The Lake Bluff Village Board approved pilot programs to allow residents to keep bees or chickens in their yards. Trustees voted 4-1 to approve the beekeeping program and 4-2 to allow backyard chickens at their Jan. 8 meeting.

In order to qualify for the program, residential lots must be at least 7,000 square feet, or 0.16 acres, in order to receive permission. As approved, only five permits will be allowed for each. A $50 annual fee, as well as standard building permit fees, will be required and no roosters will be allowed, according to village documents.

The pilot program is set to end in 2021 but could be repealed or extended by the board before then.

Village President Kathleen O'Hara's recommendation for an amendment to require residents to choose to keep either backyard chickens or bees – but not both – was adopted at the meeting.

Other restrictions on the chicken program: no selling eggs, no more than six adult chicks, no noxious odors, "predator-proof wire," and food protected from rodents. Chickens are only allowed in backyards and more than 10 feet from the homes of neighbors.

Residents permitted to keep bees will need to keep a source of water, a flyway barrier and post public warning signage for people passing by.

"Based on the fact that both such programs are being operated successfully in a variety of places in the country, I'm willing to give it a shot," Trustee Eric Grenier said. He said he wanted to closely observe how the pilot program is working out, with particular focus on the effect on neighbors.

Trustee Barbara Ankenman voted for the beekeeping program but not the one for chickens.

"Unlike bees, we are introducing some creature that is new to the area," she said, citing concerns about predators, bees and noise. "For all of these reasons I would be not in favor of this program."

Trustee Paul Lemieux was the lone vote against both programs.

"Both of these activities are agricultural in nature," Lemieux said. "I just feel like our properties are too dense, too close." He voted against both resolutions.

Due to the absence of Trustee Aaron Towle, President O'Hara was called upon to cast the decisive vote after the board's attorney said four votes were necessary to create a pilot program which, in essence, amends a village ordinance.

"I have spent the last few months trying to wrap my head around all of this," O'Hara said. "I am going to vote 'yes' to give it a chance, but it's a pilot program. Pilot programs can be pulled at any time."

Glen Cole, assistant to Lake Bluff's village administrator, said an application would be available online soon. The first opportunity for the Sustainability and Community Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee to review applicants will be at its Feb. 28 meeting.

"We’re optimistic that the first pilot permits would be issued as soon as early March," he said.

He said any problems with sanitation or adverse smells would be dealt with through inspections, fines and revocations.

"We expect our pilot participants would be some of the least likely people to create these nuisances," Cole said.

Several board members thanked the members of the sustainability committee that helped craft the pilot program.

» Video: Watch the Village of Lake Bluff's Jan. 8 board meeting – Discussion begins at the 8:10 mark

_{Photos: A chicken coop in Deerfield | Village of Lake Bluff}