Urban Chicken Request Denied in Albertville

It was a unanimous decision in Albertville City Hall Monday night. The council briefly discussed the urban chicken request and didn't need to vote because they were keeping the ordinance as is.

Chad Dahlheimer, a Towne Lakes resident in Albertville had previously asked the council to consider allowing urban chickens. He claimed to have spoken to someone at city hall who had told him that chickens would be allowed in his residential lot so believed that it was ok before investing $1000 to build a chicken coop

"Current city ordinance reads that farm animals are only allowed in A1 and A2 zoning districts which are typically unsewered lots or larger agricultural areas," city planner Al Brixius explained.

The ordinance does define chickens as a farm animal but pigeons, rabbits and domestic pets are allowed, said Brixius.

At the July 2 meeting Brixius had presented council with nearly 30 pages of information outlining both sides to the argument.

"The lots in Towne Lakes are typically only 800-900 square feet," Brixius said. "My concern isn't for the person doing a good job, it's for the person doing a poor job or who gets bored of having chickens."

"If people get bored, well there's dinner," Dahlheimer said.

"A lot of the people against urban chickens are the ones who don't have experience," Dahlheimer said further explaining that 50 pound dogs and their droppings can be a nuisance too.

"I'm not interested in changing the ordinance," Larry Sorenson said and Dan Wagner agreed.

"I understand both pros and cons," Jillian Hendrickson said. "If it comes up again let's re-discuss."

Dahlheimer told the council he's "chickened out" and settled on rabbits instead.