Proposed chicken ordinance moving forward in Vandergrift
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Vandergrift officials are moving forward with plans to adopt an ordinance regulating the ownership of backyard chickens.
A three-person committee established last month to work out details of a proposed ordinance offered some of its recommendations at a council meeting last week.
While council members had discussed the possibility of charging a $750 zoning fee to apply for a chicken permit, the committee — including council members Christine Wilson, Karen McClarnon and Casimer Maszgay — is recommending no fee.
“People are allowed to have dogs and cats, and they cost nothing (in fees to the borough),” Maszgay said.
Other recommendations include allowing residents to have up to seven hens but no roosters. Residents would be required to keep their chickens in an enclosed or fenced-in area at all times, and owners would be required to have a hen house, with the chickens secured in the henhouse during nondaylight hours.
A rooster that already is being kept along Whittier Street would be grandfathered in and allowed to remain, officials said.
Vandergrift resident Chloe Kruse, who keeps six chickens in her fenced-in backyard with a large coop, said she was happy to hear the chicken ordinance is in the works. She said her family eats their hens’ eggs and the hens roost in the coop every night.
“I’m happy to hear that the committee has taken into consideration the interest in owning chickens in town,” said Kruse, who is running for council. “A limit to a flock of seven is reasonable.”
Inspections would be conducted by a borough code officer if there is a chicken-related complaint, under the committee’s recommendation. A chicken could have to be removed if there are multiple complaints.
Maszgay said a proposed draft of a new chicken ordinance is expected to be presented at the next council meeting Oct. 4.
“We’re trying to get this done as soon as we can,” Maszgay said. “I’d like to see it voted on in October.”
Vandergrift resident Jody Sarno said he doesn’t want council to rush.
“I ask we take some time to take a look at this,” Sarno said. “I’ve talked to Realtors about should I ever decide to go and sell my house and someone beside me has chickens, (and they said) it could have a negative impact on the property value. Someone may not want to come in.”
In a previous interview with the Trib, Vandergrift Mayor Barb Turiak said she hasn’t fielded any complaints about chickens in the borough.