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VOL. 15 • NO. 23
WWW.THEINDEPENDENTNEWSPAPERS.COM
THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019
Village Board approves chicken coops Two year pilot program will allow15 licenses
By Paul DelGuidice FOR THE VILLA PARK INDEPENDENT
Some say keeping chickens in their back yard will be a learning experience for children and a good way to know that your eggs are organic and fresh. Others say raising chickens in Villa Park is for the birds. The Villa Park Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Monday, May 20 to allow up to 15 licenses for residents to erect chicken coops and raise up to four hens for private egglaying purposes. The pilot program ordinance will last for two years and be revisited to see if tweaks, expansion or cancellation is warranted. Some residents raised questions about chicken coop odor and also wondered if the presence of chickens will attract coyotes, feral cats or other predators. “I want to speak in support of [this ordinance],” Trustee Bob Wagner said. “I also have firsthand experi-
ence, as my brother’s neighbor has a chicken coop. Unless you know it’s there, it’s hard to detect.” The pilot program will allow a maximum of 15 chicken coops. Interested residents will need a building permit issued by the Village. The license fee is $25 for one year. The annual renewal is free. A minimum of two hens and a maximum of four are allowed. The owner must keep them outdoors in a back yard, enclosed in either an attached
or unattached coop. The coops must be six square feet per chicken with a maximum of 100 square feet for both the covered structure and outdoor area. Coops must be at least 10 feet from lot lines, but may be mobile. It is the owner’s obligation to keep the area clean and “well maintained with little to no accumulation of waste and shall not produce or cause odors that are detectable on adjacent properties,” according to the Ordinance.
Roosters will not be allowed. Slaughtering of the chickens is also prohibited as are keeping any other type of poultry including ducks, geese and turkeys. Trustee Christine Murphy noted that coyotes have been spotted in Villa Park, and asked if the presence of chicken coops might increase sightings of the scavengers. According to Village staff, the Chicken Coop Ordinance’s fencing and enclosure requirements should keep
predators away. Community Development Director Pat Grill also noted that selling eggs out of a residence is a violation of Village Code. Noise and odor complaints will be investigated and chicken coop owners are subject to fines and local adjudication, if found in violation. “This is basically the rules for two years,” said Village President Al Bulthuis, “Please keep the chickens in your yard.”
Local firefighters honor Memorial Day
Grand reopening of North Terrace Park on Friday
On Friday, May 31 at 4 p.m., the Village of Villa Park and the Department of Parks & Recreation invite the community to the ribbon-cutting and grand re-opening of North Terrace Park at 300 No. Westmore. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
DEE LONGFELLOW PHOTO Villa Park Independent
Inside:
Police Reports...........6 Sports �������������������� 16 Out & About.......... 17 Classifieds..............15
The Villa Park Fire Department was one of about a dozen fire and emergency vehicles to participate in the 2019 Memorial Day Parade in Elmhurst on Monday, May 27.
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