Proposal to allow chickens in city limits fails again

A proposal to allow chickens within the city limits of Rochester has died once again.

The city council on Tuesday spent nearly a half-hour discussing the proposal, which has been a recurring item on its agenda for more than a decade.

Pam Fish, who has 46 years of experience as a broker and appraiser, is adamantly opposed to the idea. She voiced concerns over smell and containment, but her main argument centered on potential devaluation of property, which she claimed would be a certainty if chickens were allowed.

"When you live in an area where you have zoning requirements, you have to abide by those," she said. "It isn't to harm anybody, it's to make the neighborhood conform to one another and that really gives you the highest and best use for your property."

She added that agricultural zones were included in the county's comprehensive plan for a reason. Having served on the local plan commission for approximately 22 years and the board of zoning appeals for more than a decade, she is well-versed in recommendations on land use. 

Fish also taught real estate for 20 years at Ancilla College and continuing education classes for the North Central Indiana Association of Realtors, as well as serving 16 years on the Indiana Real Estate Commission. 

Jennifer Branscom, with a similar request to allow rabbits in city limits, argued in support of the proposal. She noted the city could set a limit on the number of chickens allowed and require chicken coops and fencing.

"I could find a bigger nuisance than a chicken," she said, adding someone could have a 100 rats in their home because the city has no regulations or limitations set for animals weighing less than a pound.

Fish contended that even one chicken would depreciate the value of property.

"Unfortunately, whoever your compliance officer is they've got a lot of work to do," she said, adding that there's more than enough ordinance violations occurring already without the addition of chickens.

An informal survey put out by Councilwoman Amy Roe showed that the community was essentially split down the middle on the matter. From those findings, she suggested it was "too close" for the council to continue putting more time and effort into the matter. 

Other council members voiced their opposition and said they didn't need to wait until next month's meeting to decide. 

Councilman John Garrett, who has been opposed to the idea of chickens for roughly 14 years now, said he's yet to receive one positive response about the proposal. 

"I haven't found anybody who would say, 'Oh yes, I would love if my neighbor had chickens," he said. 

"I'm with Pam," Councilman Bob Cannedy said, adding that he wasn't going to come around on the idea and the council could save time by putting the matter to rest that night. 

Ultimately, the council made no motion to proceed any further.

Branscom's request to breed rabbits in city limits for show and sale also was denied due to no action taken by the council.