Brooklyn Park Tables Chicken Vote, Cites Avian Flu Concerns
The Brooklyn Park City Council tabled the vote on changing the city ordinance to allow chickens until the threat of avian influenza passes.
The first case of avian flu in Minnesota was confirmed on March 25.
“I don’t see the hastiness in having to vote for a chicken ordinance tonight,” said council member Boyd Morson, who made the motion to table the discussion and vote on the chicken ordinance. “I think we need to table this and move it forward to another day and another discussion.”
Crystal and Brooklyn Center also allows keeping of chickens.
Changing Current Ordinance to Allow for Chickens
The council is considering changing an ordinance to allow four hens on residential properties. Currently, chickens are only allowed as farm animals, if you have more than five acres of land.
The proposed change would require residents to register their backyard birds and if the resident lives in a homeowners association or rental property, it would have to obtain permission from those entities.
“If we did pass it and then next month we were the first person human case in Minnesota, then we would own that and that is something that I would like to avoid,” said Xp Lee, who says he will vote for the change. “Tabling keeps this going if and when people are more comfortable.”
