OLDS — Without a single cluck of dissention, town council approved an application to build a coop and storage facility to raise six chickens at an acreage on the north side of town.
That decision was made during council’s July 10 meeting.
The applicants, Elizabeth Hoddinott and James Rosenberger, plan to house up to six hens at 4102 50th Ave.
The development will include 48-square-foot chicken coop, a storage area and a 48-square-foot chicken run.
A request for decision in council’s July 10 agenda package says the whole development covers less than the allowable 108 square feet.
Council was asked to make the decision because accessory buildings such as chicken coops are a discretionary use in this area, which is currently designated as urban reserve.
Land in an urban reserve is set aside for future development until council approves an overall plan for the area.
Council voted to approve the proposal, subject to the applicants following nine conditions set out in a draft development permit.
Those conditions include:
• constructing the facilities in accordance with approved plans;
• ensuring surface runoff is managed via eavestroughs and downspouts so other adjacent land owners aren’t affected;
• allowing development officers to inspect the facilities to ensure that indeed, only 48 square feet of space is utilized for the chicken coop,
• the building must be no taller than 4.5 metres (14.76 ft) in height and cannot exceed the height of the main dwelling; and
• if construction of the project is not completed within one year of approval, “nor carried out with reasonable diligence, such permit approval ceases and the permit itself is deemed void, expired, and without effect, unless an extension of this period has been previously granted.”
Mayor Judy Dahl thanked town development officer Shari Edgington for her presentation of the proposal.
“It was a very interesting read,” she said.
