Chicken, Bee Ordinance Has Forest Hills Residents Buzzing

Residents in Forest Hills are buzzing about the possibility of "urban farming" in the community.

Borough council is considering changing the current ordinance in Forest Hills prohibiting residents to raise chickens and bees.

Council chambers was packed Wednesday evening with residents on both sides of the spectrum—some supporting the allowance of residents to have chicken and bees, others against it.

Resident Phil Hilf and many others supported the notion of residents being able to keep bees and chickens for the ability to live more organic lives and eat more natural foods.

Hilf said a change to the current ordinance would be a "positive and healthy change," adding that bees help pollinate gardens and chicken waste—which he said amounts to less than that of dogs—enriches soil and serves as natural compost.

"People who want to do it do it right," he said. "Why should we stop at our Tree City U.S.A. designation? Let's take 'green' to the next level."

Resident Donnalee Dodson said that when she moved into the area years ago, she was misinformed by a realtor that raising chickens was allowed.

Dodson currently has three hens, and said she recently found out she was out of compliance. Though she is in favor of an ordinance allowing urban farming, she said she thinks residents should be limited to five hens, and slaughtering chickens for meat is not appropriate for an urban setting.

Dodson's neighbor John Holmes said the chickens have not been a disturbance to him or other neighboring residents.

But not everyone who takes part in raising bees and chickens will be as conscientious as Dodson, according to resident Joann Meier.

"We already have serious problems with simple code enforcement issues," she said.

Resident Lori Madden agreed, stating that the code enforcement department currently operates on a part-time basis. She also expressed concern about a former raccoon problem in the borough.

Council Vice President William Tomasic invited the public to attend council's committee meeting on Tuesday, April 2, at 7 p.m. at the borough building. He said the matter would be discussed at that time.

Councilwoman Devon Wood also invited a representative from Burgh Bees, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of urban beekeeping, to attend the workshop meeting.

Officials stressed that a possible change to the ordinance is in the discussion phase right now, and the absolute earliest it would be voted on would be at the end of May.

"We have no intentions of rushing this," said Councilman Markus Erbeldinger.

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