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Bickering dooms KDH backyard chicken proposal
A spit decision Monday night killed a proposal to allow chicken hens in Kill Devil Hills.
The Board of Commissioners drew a full house for a public hearing but was unable to scratch up a majority of votes to amend a town ordinance that prohibits farm animals.
With Commissioner Paul Buske absent, the board voted 2-2 to reject an exception for backyard chickens, meaning it could not be reconsidered.
Mayor Sheila Davies and Commissioner Brandi Rheubottom sought a compromise, but Commissioners Bob Woodard and Mike Hogan said the issue had become too divisive and needed to be put to rest.
“It was mentioned tonight that we’d create a sense of community, but based on the phone calls and e-mails that I’ve had, it’s definitely not creating a sense of community,” Hogan said. “It’s doing just the opposite.”
Among about a dozen speakers — most of them favoring backyard chickens — some mentioned that sharing eggs would bring neighborhoods together. But others warned that keeping hens would affect property values. They also cited potential health problems, odors and noise.
Proponents said research had debunked such concerns. Many communities, including large cities like New York and San Francisco, allow chickens. So do unincorporated Dare County, Kitty Hawk and Manteo.
Davies suggested modeling the ordinance after one in Durham, which would require a town review for each request if a neighbor objected.
The proposed amendment in Kill Devil Hills already called for registering the hens, limiting the number to six and prohibiting roosters. It also set down specifications for coops and runs.
“I see the division that it’s caused, and that’s heartbreaking to me because we are a wonderful community” Rheubottom said. “And if you had told me a month ago that a chicken ordinance could cause the community division that this has caused, I would tell you you’ve lost your mind.
Photo: North Carolina Cooperative Extension.
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Beach Bouy says:
Any town ordinance should take into consideration potential infringement on the rights of the neighbors to enjoy a peaceful existence. They should also consider adequate protection of the live stock against the native nocturnal foxes that prowl our yards while we sleep. People should be allowed to keep a few chickens, if they have adequate acreage and can do so without creating potential health or nuisance issues. Once again, our town leaders have failed to adequately and intelligently manage what should be a relatively simple matter.
Native son says:
Oh well,no fresh golden yolks for you.With the amount of foxes on the Outer Banks running loose,predation would have been a problem and someone might get hurt protecting their flocks,since KDH police won’t respond to hen house raiders.
Nags Header says:
Ban everything on the “Island of NO!”.
Just Curious says:
Most of the lots and I’m guessing most of the people who wanted chickens do not have even an acre of property. Seems when we are talking about between 5k and 10k lots doesn’t make for much chicken room. So maybe just maybe this was managed just right.
ekim says:
You want to keep chickens couped up, or there to tough to eat,(it wont stop a fox or coon from trying)The vote sounds like a set up 2 ta 2 with one missing, so thats it?
Bubba says:
I like mine fried. I guess no one considered the fact that hens would help keep the bug population down. Roosters I can understand because roosters crow all night long and not just in the morning. Hens, they don’t make much noise at all. The fox argument is ridiculous. Drive east of here and farms have chickens as well as coyotes and the red wolves slinking around.
I think a limit to the number of hens could have been set and the size of the coop and everyone would have survived. If I were looking to buy property in KDH I would be thrilled to see the hens next door. That means the potential of farm fresh eggs from my neighbor.
How many were at the meeting in favor and how many against?
beachlivin' says:
just another example of government siding with the minority. shame on kdh!
Col. Sanders says:
What the cluck?
bob says:
Darn, I was hoping Lowe’s would start selling laying hens and DIY chicken coup kits. Maybe we can keep some hens on Lowe’s extra property.
OBX Resident says:
The people that voted no to the ordinance are ignorant to the impact that chickens have on neighboring property. No one cited specific evidence related to chicken noise, odor, and property values. A 75lb dog in a pen barking creates more noise than 6 hens. A 75lb dog running around a yard pooping within the 5′ yard setback or in a riparian area creates more odor and poluttion that chickens in a pen. A 75lb dog barking non-stop would make ones property harder to sell than one haveing 6 hens that are barely audible.
Next up for KDH lets ban Canadian Geese, they are a lot more noisy and poop a lot more than chickens. KDH leadership is lacking.
cjs says:
I personally feel that the Town of Kill Devil Hills exercises too much control over property owners by telling them what they can and can’t do within their own property…. def. too much government. However, with that said, the lots are too small for rural livestock, chickens, whatever…. Property values are really low right now, especially Manns Harbor, Columbia, Currituck, etc. where there is more than enough lot size for stuff like this…. Again, KDH town lots are too small for this. It is decision time for many property owners, do you want to live in the city? Or do you want to live in the country? That’s all I got…..
Bitaskew says:
Chickens do not need much room. You can raise a dozen in 16×16 run with a 4×8 coop. The also in my reading make great pets.
Bob says:
Foxes aren’t a problem, just ask any hen owners in KH, NH or Manteo. If you don’t know, don’t comment! That’s half of KDH’s problem, the other half is fear!
Haterade says:
Box Score for Public Hearing:
Pro 14 speakers 260 signatures 5 phone calls 2 letters
Con 4 speakers 0 signatures 10 phone calls 2 letters
one more local says:
What’s wrong with a few chickens? They don’t bark all day and night,and they are great weed and pest killers, plus great egg producers. Come on commisioners, get a life and give us a break.
John says:
Maybe properties would be more valuable if there were not so many restrictions on what you can and cannot do.
Beached Bum says:
I say keep chickens as exotic pets which there is no ordinance against, in some cities as long as the chickens are named they are considered pets and not livestock. The only chicken farms that are dangerous to any neighborhood or to society for that matter are the factory farms.
dave douglas says:
Hmmmm! Looks like the itty bitty bitty committee has spoken and once again no logic has prevailed!
ekim says:
Hey yall SCREW EM go by your chicks build your hen houses and GET ON IT #!%* em , @ Bubba every farmer I know & the nps kill a fox in a blink!
More to it... says:
I see no one has mentioned that there is a portion of KDH that would not be allowed to have hens even if the town said yes because of their covenants. Some covenant specifically mention no poultry. Covenants trump the town!
KHer says:
I’m surprised. Lowes would have made a killing on selling chicken wire, which would have created jobs and boosted the KDH economy.
What are they thinking?
Katherine says:
How can they have a final vote on an issue when Commissioner Buske was absent? This needs to be revisited when all the eligible voters are present.
Pat Rawls says:
this is a crazy decision. i assume anyone who already has a few little chickens may keep them. what will they ban next? time to vote some of these people out of office!!!
Frank Moore says:
Commissioner Buske must have had a very important “personal emergency” to attend to or I’m sure that he would not have “skipped” this meeting and stood up and be held accountable. It was probably decided in advance of the meeting by our “leaders” for him not to attend so no vote would have to been taken. Shame on all of these so called “leaders”. Folks do the public business and make decissions even tough ones, that is what you were elected for.
obxdad says:
What a bunch of Chicken Littles.
I cannot believe that KDH has declared an impasse – time to start going to every meeting and protesting!
I hope those who opposed this effort realize that they will be voted out next election.
We are not talking livestock! Do people think we can’t have gardens because we don’t live on a farm? NO! Same goes for a couple of chickens – we are not talking production farming, just enjoyment for those who would like to own a couple hens. Ridiculous!!!
Cliff says:
It does not matter how the BOC voted…if you want chickens in your yard, then put them in your yard.
We have gangs and drug dealers that walk around this town unabated while we have police officers sitting along the side of the road for hours at a time with a radar gun stuck out a window.
Unless your chickens have escaped your backyard and are going 51mph in a 45mph zone, I don’t think there will be much enforcement to the chicken ordinance.
James says:
Katherine, because of parliamentary procedure there only needs to a quorum for a proper vote to take place. In fact I believe the vote could have taken place with only three voting members present. That being said, maybe Buske’s vote may not have been much help to your cause.
Kitty Hawk Res says:
Sounds like the people making decisions or voting have not had any encounters with hens themselves. My neighbors small dog is allowed to bark for hours a day. My neighbors on the opposite side have two hens which present NO odor and make NO noise. Humm.
Haterade says:
@ More to it: You are correct but not everyone lives in a neighborhood that has covenants, conditions, and restriction attached to their property. The Town BoC is not anyone’s HOA and should not make decisions based on a particular subdivision’s deed restrictions.
KDHgal says:
How disappointing that those who jump on the negative, without any true knowledge, understanding or research on the issue, are allowed to ‘rule the roost’. Shame on the commissioners for allowing the naysayers to override researched facts, Like a couple of other commenters mentioned…I’d much rather have a few quiet chickens in the neighborhood than dog owners who allow their dogs to bark all the time.
The fact that this seems to be a dead issue is even more distressing.
Is it just me? says:
Is anyone else a bit concerned that chickens have become such a focus that some have vowed to “work hard to seat a chicken-friendly BOC in Dec. 2013.” That quote is from the Facebook page: KDH Backyard Chickens.
Nearly 20 people commented on the chicken issue at the Monday meeting. The Town budget was also on the agenda. How many citizens addressed that item? ONE!
Surely we have bigger issues before us. Maybe it’s just me, but I find the idea of a “chicken-friendly BOC” alarming, laughable, and downright embarrassing for KDH.
Haterade says:
Is is just you. The embarrassment for KDH is the total disregard for the residents’ opinions on matters such as these. A room full of people wanting this to pass were denied by the baseless fears of a couple of people who were already covered by deed restrictions.
Nags Header says:
Yes, lets talk “nuisance, potential health problems, odors and noise”.
You can pack as many humans as physically possible into rental cottages on a weekly/monthly basis creating massive overflowing garbage blowing everywhere, very loud partying, septic tanks used beyond capacity overflowing & over washing closing waterways under the guise of “natural bacteria”, etc., etc.
But, eh… money talks & chickens squawk. AmIrite?
S.S.D.D. on the “Island of NO!”.
Just Curious says:
“A room full of people wanting this to pass” The majority of the people who spoke were from the same three families. Let’s not get too crazy about the crowd.
ekim says:
@ cliff SO WELL SAID! @ Nags Header so well said!
Shame on KDH says:
This article is terrible! Is doesn’t address any of the actual issue and isn’t representative of the actual meeting. Quotes are out of context and this is sloppy, lazy reporting. Try better next time!
gangneighbors says:
If the police can’t rid my neighborhood of gang members and drug dealers living and dealing openly and code enforcement and heath department can’t enforce occupancy numbers, just how do you think they can regulate “chickens”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jackie Harris says:
If you think the commissioners Layed an Egg on this wait till they get thru with the budget!. There is nothing in it to show savings except no filling empty position’s. Just adding to the cost of operation’s,. No cut’s to PD for Sgt on leave to work for somebody else!. No cut’s equal higher TAXES!.
Just Grasping @ Straws says:
Keep ignoring the majority of the citizens. It worked out so well for the KDH incumbents last election cycle.
Obvious says:
Fear vs. Fact: and FEAR wins again!! Because, obviously, property values in NYC and Kitty Hawk have been soooo adversely affected by chickens!! Junky car out front? Cool. Help in mosquito control? Free fertilizer? Pets way quieter than dogs? Or a healthful addition to breakfast? Nahhh. Wonder where the commissioners did their ‘research’??? Sad and embarrassing, guys.
Just Curious says:
Wait didn’t the elected officials keep saying the majority wanted the Lowe’s, even though they never showed up for meetings. They surely can’t be wrong twice.
one more local says:
In Parlimentary procedure with a quorom vote made with two yeas and two nays, how in the world does it come out “nay”. Why not the other way? I don’t understand how the issue becomes dead. Can anyone enlighten me?
Haterade says:
Lowe’s came to town over the complaints of a few.
Chickens must stop at the north and south borders of town because of the complaints of a few.
ratter says:
The powers that be in Dare County talk a good game, but when it comes to cutting working families trying to make ends meet a break or when it comes to encouraging entrepreneurship, they fall way short. I’m pretty disheartened by local governments always telling us why they CAN’T do something, rather than figuring out how to make changes that support working families.
Just Curious says:
Haterade, not sure what you mean but there were more people at town meetins against Lowes then there were when it came to chickens. just another case of not keeping the facts straight.
Nags Header says:
“Buck$” over “Bak Baks”.
Yes, I’m right.
KDHer 4life says:
Why was a compromise that was floated by the Mayor circumvented? Seems there was a chance that everyone could have been satisfied at the end of the night.
Frank Moore says:
I think the reason a compromise was not agreed upon was because something would have been accomplished by the BOC and they have a hard time doing this. Maybe if Chief Britt had suggested a compromise it would have been done. Just a thought !
Is it just me? says:
To Jackie Harris: Just wait. When that chicken-friendly Board takes over in 2013, they will surely make everything right in KDH. Unfortunately, TAXES are not high on their list of priorities.
Just Curious says:
From what I hear the mayor was for the town having chickens and also thought the compromise was a good idea. I guess others disagreed.
KDHer 4life says:
Are these meetings televised or streamed on the web? Be interesting to see for myself who spoke and listen to what they had to say.
Sad that some one shut down the idea of compromise. That is no way to handle an issue.
Rick says:
Eggs are about the cheapest product you can buy at the grocery store. Once you factor in the cost of feeding and maintaining the chickens I doubt there would be any appreciable savings. Now beef critters would be another matter so long as you have acreage large enough for them to graze.
RnR says:
well if we can ban chickens from kdh because they are loud and obnoxious…can we ban your neighbors from having kids because they can be obnoxious too. What about a law that makes you wait til 8 or 9 in the morning to mow your grass? COME ON PEOPLE. Banning roosters that “cock-a-doodle-do” at 4am is one thing, but as long as the chickens are in a decent size coop (depending on quantity) that is completely inclosed so they dont get into the neighbors yard, whos business is it of yours?
RnR says:
Heres my question…if there was so much support in this, than how can the vote be against it? Maybe its time for the public to take back their county…and country
h2o says:
I’m forwarding all the local new on this to “60 Minutes”, this is REAL prime time material.
beachlivin' says:
Rick- it has not been out the price of eggs at all. have you ever seen or eaten a fresh egg? the cost of keeping my hens runs me about $12 a month, so its not a bank breaking expense. actually, all of the treats they get now, i bought last summer. my cat cost me more money than my chicks. its the ability to be able to access fresh chemical free food. and the poop does wonders for your garden.
Bob says:
A lot of the naysayers and calls made against hens were from the same neighborhood that has the protective covenant in place. No matter the outcome of the board they would not have been affected. Bottom line, Two commissioners voted with personal bias. I bet Woodard even talked down and lectured the audience like he always does when he disagrees.
jamie says:
So what is the penalty for having chickens