Brooklyn Park Examines Chicken Ordinance, Again
The Brooklyn Park City Council is once again reviewing the ordinance on chickens, with at least one council member remarking the city has done more community engagement on this issue than it has many others. They took up the matter again in Monday night’s meeting.
The current ordinance allows chickens on parcels of land that are at least five acres in size. Maple Grove has a similar ordinance.
Should Brooklyn Park allow chicken within city limits?
Brooklyn Park Considers Changing Chicken Ordinance
The current proposal would allow people to keep up to four hens. It also outlines coop and care requirements.
The council rejected a chicken ordinance in 2012 and 2019, but citizen engagement surveys from 2019 and 2021 indicate residents want to be allowed to keep chickens on their property.
“I am opposed to the chicken ordinance. I don’t know why this pops up every year,” said Rich Xiong in public forum. “I feel like the community has already spoken.”
Xiong was one of several people who spoke against the ordinance who said they owned chickens in the past.
“Brooklyn Park is a suburban city. A lot of us didn’t move here to raise chickens,” said Steve Marsolek. “I grew up on a farm. I cam here to get away from the fowl.”
But some citizens spoke in support of chickens for sustainability and cultural reasons.
“We don’t have tractors, silos, feed lots or fields,” explained Harvey Haines. “My partner and I have a third acre lot with a sunny backyard and chickens would be a welcome addition. We’re not asking for a flock. We’re not asking for a rooster, just a handful of hens.”
One resident said that chickens are already being kept in some backyards, and called attention to the recent fire of an illegal chicken coop as proof.
“Chickens are here in the city. Any council member who has gone out door knocking has seen families with chickens out there,” said Hassanen Mohamed.
After another public hearing on April 11, the council will vote on the ordinance.
