Ba-CAW! Rules on chickens scuttled in W. Bloomfield

The West Bloomfield Township Planning Commission has voted to recommend to the township Board of Trustees not to draft language for a proposed ordinance that could allow residents to house chickens in residentially-zoned areas.

“They just didn’t feel it would fit with the character of the community and that it would maybe lead to a lowering of property values or maintenance issues, nuisances between the smell and sounds,” said Township Senior Planner Sara Roediger. “We recommended to the township that they not approve the ordinance. It’s now up to the board if they want to allow it or not.”

The current township ordinance restricts the housing or keeping of animals to farms, with the exception of domestic pets such as dogs and cats, along with housing animals in private stables.

Under the proposed amendment, the housing or keeping of chickens would be permitted under certain conditions.

Roediger said that a resident would only would be able to keep chickens if they were exempt from agricultural regulations.

The next township board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 12.

This comes after a district court judge on Aug. 16 ordered Milford Village resident Archie Noon to remove chickens he had housed in his backyard, within 60 days, a period during which he can appeal to the village to amend its animal control ordinance, which prohibits farm animals, including chickens, anywhere within the village.

The commission’s action came on Aug. 23.