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East Palestine chicken owners put on notice

EAST PALESTINE — Anyone with chickens in parts of the village that are zoned residential will need to get rid of them in less than 30 days.

On Monday, council passed legislation by a 5-1 vote to change the zoning code to add the definition of livestock — which also includes chickens. The legislation was passed after the required three readings and takes effect within 30 days of the vote.

The legislation also had the recommendation of the planning commission.

The move means that livestock as defined by the the code are now only allowed in areas that are zoned R-U, which is rural. A public hearing was held before the vote, and the only ones who spoke urged council not to change the code.

Erica Wilson, a Nutrition Consultant with Agland Co-Op and longtime community member, said the village will sway people like her from not living there by not allowing chickens.

A millennial herself, she said that other millennials are turning to sustainable agriculture, like raising their own chickens for meat and/or eggs.

“You are limiting those of us that are considered millennials from coming back to this community,” she said.

She said her generation wants to be able to grow their own food and raise their own animals for food, and they can’t always afford a large piece of land in the agriculturally zoned areas.

She also said allowing chickens is important for educating even younger generations, whose only knowledge of where their food comes from is the local Sparkle Market or McDonald’s.

“You are now not teaching them the good sustaining practices,” she said.

Councilman Alan Cohen wondered why the sudden push for sustainable practices.

“Where did this question of living in a community that has a grocery store and other stores suddenly mean that you have to have sustainability on your own property?” he said.

Wilson replied there is comfort in knowing where you food comes from, whereas things can happen in large-scale productions, like salmonella outbreaks.

“So you are doing this in anticipation of some emergency or some disaster that might take place?” Cohen asked.

Wilson said not necessarily, but it is common knowledge that locally-raised eggs are more nutritious than what can be found at a store.

Resident and Lt. firefighter Jon Rettig Jr. agreed.

He said he raises his own beef and personally does not buy from local grocery stores because 80 percent of the meat is coming from Mexico and Brazil.

“That is a personal choice that should be left up to the individual,” he said.

Mayor Margo Zuch said her main concern is enforcement. She said the police department doesn’t have enough patrolmen on duty to check on chickens.

“I think it would be troublesome for them to have to worry about chickens when they could be needed someplace else,” she said.

Wilson said she didn’t believe the chickens would be that problematic, and had also said that most people treat their chickens the same as their other pets, like dogs and cats.

However, that comment prompted a discussion about how dogs and cats are already a problem in town, especially cats.

“We have a feral cat problem in East Palestine. I don’t think anybody denies that. We have a dog problem in East Palestine. I don’t see why we should exacerbate the problem by allowing chickens,” Cohen said.

Councilman DJ Yokley said he was concerned with whether people would raise the chickens properly, and how it would affect neighbors of people who don’t want chickens near their property.

Councilman Don Elzer recalled that he proposed legislation that laid out regulations on the proper keeping of chickens (hens only, no roosters) in town, but it was voted down by council a few months ago.

He also agreed with Wilson that the village will lose potential new residents by not allowing chickens in town.

Cohen said the zoning code was put in place “as a promise to residents” so they would know what to expect where they live.

“You are promising them that if they choose to make their home in a neighborhood, that neighborhood is going to remain that way,” he said.

He added that the vote that evening does not mean someone can’t convince council to allow chickens in residential areas later.

“We are passing this ordinance to define livestock, not just chickens. But for purposes of filling the gap in the zoning code. There is nothing that can prevent council down the road from allowing chickens in East Palestine … I want you to understand that this doesn’t foreclose this completely. If you can convince a majority of us that it is appropriate, then be my guest,” he said.

Elzer was the only one on council who opposed the legislation.

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