Chicken census required to monitor success
Editor:
It is such good news to learn that Clearview councillors have agreed to allow residents to keep chickens in their backyards.
Now the hard work begins for the staff charged with the awesome responsibility of developing appropriate bylaws and regulations to implement the council decision.
One wonders what zoning amendments will be needed and how setbacks and variances will be managed by the already overworked planning department. No doubt an annual operating budget will have to be established to cover the cost of supervising the chicken population, rules will be needed to ensure that household chicken quotas are not violated, annual chicken health checks will become important and perhaps the township will need to retain a small animal vet to advise on best practices to maintain a healthy chicken population. An annual chicken census will be required to monitor the success of the new regulations.
The planning department will have to decide on how to supervise applications for the construction of chicken coops and no doubt there will follow a vigorous council debate on a reasonable development charge for the work involved. The bylaw officers will need to be vigilant on periodic inspections of the chicken coops and penalties will have to be set for serious violations. For example, will the villages need noise abatement bylaws to control noisy chickens and ensure neighborhood tranquility. The list of issues surrounding this monumental decision by our councillors is likely quite exhausting and the supply of eggs may become endless. Of course, the sourcing of chickens might be a problem for some people but perhaps the council could invest in a hatchery to bring jobs to the township and create a low cost supply of chickens for all taxpayers.
Finally, perhaps the council should consider a chicken oversight committee of concerned citizens to advise on the ultimate benefits flowing from this significant decision affecting village life in Clearview Township.
Rowland Fleming,
Creemore.
