Community Corner

Environmental Commission Reviews Chicken Ordinance

This week, the Golden Valley Environmental Commission reviewed pros and cons to changing city code to allow residents to own chickens.

Earlier this summer, the Golden Valley City Council instructed the Environmental Commission to help answer a question: What would happen if residents were allowed to keep chickens on their property?

Slowly but surely, the commission is getting answers.

At a meeting this week, Golden Valley Police Chief Stacy Carlson, Director of Planning and Development Mark Grimes and Property Maintenance Inspector Josh Kunde worked with commission members to sort out pros and cons to the possible ordinance change.

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According to commission documents, Carlson said that her staff currently responds to a number of dog-related issues. She addressed commission members and spoke about how ownership of chickens may impact the police department.

Changing the ordinance to allow the ownership of chickens first came to the attention of the city in May during a City Council work session. The Environmental Commission is taking months to thoroughly review the issue.

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In a letter to commission members, Graduate Engineer Eric Seaburg said that residents in both Robbinsdale and Shoreview are allowed to own chickens.

The City of Shoreview has currently issued 12 chicken licenses and in the past few months have had one complaint about a rooster. In Robbinsdale, two residents have permits to own chickens.

At a meeting on Aug. 27, Environmental Commission members asked two Edina Realty realtors, Karla Rose and Jacqeuline Day, to speak about how changes to the city's ordinance may impact property sales.

Both realtors didn't think that allowing residents to own chickens would impact sales.

What do you think? Should Golden Valley change city ordinance to allow the ownership of chickens? Tell us in the comments.


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