An Ordinance By The Pasco County Board Of County Commissioners Amending The Pasco County Land Development Code; Creating Section 530.25; Backyard Chickens; And Other Sections, As Necessary, For Internal Consistency; Providing For Applicability; Repealer; Providing For Severability; Inclusion Into The Land Development Code, And An Effective Date.

1:58:46Okay. All right, crossing the street to item PC four.

1:58:54Tough crowd. Always uh

1:58:57South Side or East Side.

1:58:58Yeah, exactly. West. Item PC four, you are sitting as a local planning agency for. That's PDE 250469. An ordinance by the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners, amending the Pasco County Land Development Code, creating section 530.25 Backyard Chickens. and other sections as necessary for internal consistency, providing for applicability, repealer, providing for severability, inclusion into the land development

1:59:28code, and an effective date.

1:59:33Okay.

1:59:39Good afternoon. Joseph Reinbold, Planning Development and Economic Growth.

1:59:46In fall of last year, the Board of County Commissioners directed staff to draft an ordinance to allow chickens in residential zoning districts for the purpose of egg production as a response to the high cost of eggs. What staff is presenting to you today is the Backyard Chickens Ordinance.

2:00:05Here is a summary of the proposed section five thirty point two five of the Land Development Code. Allows for backyard chickens for the purpose of egg production within residential properties, excluding ER, ER two, MF1, MF two, and MF three. ER and ER two are agricultural zoning districts. They already have allowances for chickens. M F one, M F two, and MF three are multifamily and it's not a compatible uh use in those zoning districts.

2:00:36In situations where a commercially zoned property has a legal nonconforming use of a residence um for the purposes of this ordinance The property will looked at be looked at as a uh residential property and they will be allowed to have backyard chickens.

2:00:55The setbacks shall be the required setbacks of the nearest zoning districts, uh where they meet the minimum lot area width that our setback regulations can be met. If the coop is in the rear pro of the property it it can meet the accessory structure regulations, which are five feet.

2:01:13The provisions of the proposed section will not supersede any covenant or restriction of record, so an an HOA can have more restrictive regulations. Uh and the proposed regulations regarding the keeping of chickens will be addressed specifically in Chapter 14 of the Pasco County Code of Ordinances.

2:01:35So while today we're looking at the proposed land development code text of 530.25 for context, we did want to share some key points of the proposed Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances.

2:01:49Section 14150 gives limits on the number of hens and prohibits roosters. There's a requirement for the property to be occupied and not vacant and it cannot be used as a vacation rental. Section fourteen one five one. Gives restrictions on the location of the coop, the maximum size and height of it, the minimum sp square footage per bird, also security, accessibility, and cleaning of the coop.

2:02:22Section 14152, Health Sanitation and Nuisance. And that gives information on pest and rodent reduction, nuisance controls such as noise and odor. Also addresses disease management and disposal of dead birds.

2:02:39Section 14153, Permit Process and Requirements. So there is the requirement for a completion of a UFIFIS course. It's basically gonna be like a Backyard Chickens 101 Best Practices of Keeping Chickens. There will be a one time county permit that is required and that Certificate of completion completion of the IFIS course is one of those requirements. Uh there's conditions for revocation and denial

2:03:09of the permit. And also as well as public health emergency procedure compliance.

2:03:18Staff recommends the local planning agency find the proposed amendments consistent with the comprehensive plan. And then this concludes the presentation. I'm here for any questions.

2:03:29All right. staff was kind enough to give me a preview of this about a month ago.

2:03:39And one of the things they said was that the class doesn't actually exist yet. Does it exist that was at the time. Does the class exist now?

2:03:49I believe they're still working on it.

2:03:53Do we have an estimated time when the class will be available? What I'm hesitant to do is to tell a citizen my old house. Here you can have six-acre lots. This this what'll happen is this will get reported on social media that they are now allowed backyard chickens. Of course it won't get allowed with up get reported with all the facts. And that the fact is you need a permit and the fact that you're supposed to take the class and then you're gonna get citizens gonna call up and say, Well I wanna I just got my chicken's attractor supply, I wanna take the class, well we don't actually

2:04:24have a class so

2:04:27When will ever when will Pardon the pun, when will all the ducks be in a row to implement the chicken and will the chicks be in the row?

2:04:35Amanda Hill, Planning Development, Economic Growth. So we are working with our UF ISO IFUS team to develop the course. Part of the issue is that the course is gonna be reflective of the ordinance itself. So they are waiting for us to have a finalized version of that ordinance before they actually go ahead and prepare the course and have it online. And like Joseph said, the code of ordinances will be brought to the board for adoption, along with the adoption hearing for this Land Development Code amendment. So the intent is to have that course ready by that adoption hearing.

2:05:11John, did you want to teach that course?

2:05:14No, I don't. No. Well John. I don't. I this is one of these ordinances I will tell you, you know, I I have chickens. I've made no secrets that I have chickens. Um Chickens won't be chickens will be for some people and they won't be for all people and play house out. I'm sure some people will follow this ordinance to the letter and they'll do just fine and then there'll be some problems along the way, but I don't know what else you could do.

2:05:46Yeah. Any other

2:05:47questions? Only question I had in in the five thirty twenty five backyard check in chicken's intent and purpose. Does that language in the third line where it says excluding ER ER two, MF one, MF two? Is that saying what it's intended to say? It's been changed, Jamie.

2:06:05We actually worked on it and to make it clear for the intent and we have language that will be at the first public hearing with the Board of County Commissioners already drafted and added into the agenda for that measurement. Thank you. Thank you.

2:06:16Do you can you explain what the change is, Elizabeth?

2:06:19Oh and Adela, do you have it in front of you? I can so I can find it. I think I put it in an email to you. I can maybe find that.

2:06:25Well you're looking at that. So that nothing in this preempts existing provisions within HOAs that would strictly not allow this.

2:06:35Yeah, the deed restrictions still control. If they have deed restrictions on a property they can't have 'em.

2:06:39Right.

2:06:42And that's actually stated in Chapter 14.

2:06:48Of course, right here. Five thirty. You got it, Joseph?

2:06:51I believe so. Is

2:06:53there any plan

2:06:58One of the concerns I have and this isn't any reason I would vote against this. But is there any plan To communicate to this to the public again what I said this a minute ago. What'll happen is Somebody'll report on social media they allow backyard chickens and there's gonna be a bunch of people that run down to Rural King or tractor supply and go get chicks without knowing what all the rules of the road are here or And I think the

2:07:28county has to really go out of its way to communicate Th yes, we're allowing this, but they require permits and there are regulations you need to follow. Otherwise I suspect that you're going to get a whole bunch of people with backyard chickens that don't follow this ordinance. I think it's really important that you communicate this to the public.

2:07:55I know there's a land development code. And a code of ordinance because I It's my job. Ninety nine percent of the public in this county has no du uh no idea that this document exists and is and doesn't know how to get to it. In fact I had one member of the community who thought we were the county was keeping it a secret, but Um You've got to be able to communicate what the rules are. Because it's to people can easily go to the store and buy the

2:08:25chicks and have backyard chickens in a matter of minutes. It's Oh. Again, I I don't know that's anything you put in an ordinance and it's not a reason for me to vote against it. I'm just saying you need to be able to communicate that message.

2:08:41Understood. Thank you. Uh that language, uh the ER, a state residential district, and the ER2, a state residential district, are not subject to the requirements of Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances, as the keeping of chickens is permitted by right in those districts pursuant to sections 509 and 510 of the code.

2:09:04Yeah.

2:09:05Okay.

2:09:07One question I've got is we d we define poultry as well. Foul chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. And then Article three is keeping of live poultry, then we just define Chickens. Do we need the Does that I mean we aren't. There's no control on turkeys, ducks or geese are not allowed or

2:09:26Are are you looking at the chapter fourteen language? Yes. Okay. The intent of those definitions and the way that I structured those amendments there is to recognize within the animal Chapter 14 deals with animals and you've all these requirements of 14 will apply to chickens as well. Okay, not rabies shots though, of course. But the idea was that going forward in the future to have a broader category that future amendments may be added to that if there is some now this desire then for turkeys or what have you. And there's a couple of jurisdictions that have explored allowing ducks

2:09:56as well for whatever reason, eggs or companionship, I don't know. But it's just kind of the shell of a l a larger um code amendment that can be added on to in the future. Okay.

2:10:06Yeah that makes sense. I I just didn't know if we needed something that says that

2:10:13If uh uh um I guess we're g if you think we're good, we're good. That's all I I get.

2:10:18Are are you is your concern that the language isn't clear that you can only have chickens, you can't have ducks, you can't have turkeys, you can't

2:10:28have quail. Is there an intent to restrict it to just chickens and are we doing

2:10:33it You only have rules for chickens right now and it specifically says keeping of chickens.

2:10:37But if there's no

2:10:38but there are no rules for the other things written yet. So there are

2:10:41no rules for keeping turkeys, can I just do whatever I want with turkeys is my question.

2:10:45I mean we could add language to the effect that all the other things are prohibited unless otherwise amended. I mean that would resolve that question.

2:10:55Mr. Munds, the i the intent was was just to r allow and regulate chickens, no roosters, no turkeys and that type of foul. Right.

2:11:06And I I didn't go to law school, but um I would say if keeping of poultry's in there that would say that okay, well then I can keep poultry, but you're only restricting chicken so all the others aren't restricted.

2:11:17We can we can add some actually. I mean I have absolut I've no problem to do that,

2:11:20but absolutely

2:11:21fine.

2:11:25I got a question for Mr. Moody. As far as the um I guess this was established, someone said that it was for the prices of eggs that was going up. So in your experience when you add all this

2:11:36did

2:11:37the prices really is it really cheaper to have your own chickens when you consider all the costs that go into it?

2:11:45Not under that ordinance, no. Okay. No, my personal experience is Well there's multiple reasons people want to raise the chickens, but if they want eggs

2:12:02If you keep your chickens in a coop and you feed them chicken feed that you buy at the feed store, the eggs you will have Well chances are unless you buy Legurn chickens, the eggs you're gonna have are brown, which People pay a premium for those. But you are going to have Bright yellow a yolks, which is what you get in the grocery store, and that is a chicken that is fed exclusively a grain diet. The people who pay the premium for organic and free range

2:12:32eggs, they'll notice that the yolks in their eggs are orangeish color and that comes from eating bugs and other plants other than just being fed corn and wheat and rye and the like. Um if you gotta pay to just feed 'em bag food from tractor supply. It's cheaper to buy your eggs at Publix. If you want to let your birds roam around the yard and you live in the egg zoning district and can do that. Well then they'll eat about half as much food and you'll get the nice premium

2:13:02eggs that you're looking for and yes you will get 'em cheaper, but Some people still want to know where their food comes from and I don't find any problem with that.

2:13:12Well yeah, that's exactly what I was gonna say. The impetus to this might have been the egg prices, but that's a cyclical thing that's a lot of things.

2:13:21Yeah, that that's a cyclical thing that will resolve itself, whereas this ordinance will stay into perpetuity in theory. But um but it would also will will help with is um sourcing organic food and it takes some pressure off the commercial food supply and Mm-hmm. Yeah so that's from that respect it's a really good.

2:13:39Good

2:13:39thing.

2:13:41Could you agree with that? Or if you live next to John, it's cheaper.

2:13:46Yeah, just go next door. That's right.

2:13:48Take them. My neighbors are not complaining of a lack of eggs. Do

2:13:54they get

2:13:54another likewise I don't have a lack of pork or beef.

2:13:57Do do we have another four hens if there's an ADU on the property?

2:14:02I don't

2:14:03think so. I don't think I'm a lot of this.

2:14:06Anybody else have any comments about this? Nope. If not, then I hear a motion.

2:14:11Motion to approve.

2:14:12Second. Second. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Others like sign?

2:14:20Was that motion with the uh amendment to the the language to exclude

2:14:26other poultry.

2:14:34Okay, thank you very much. Thank you.

2:14:40next. Next

2:14:44All right, our last item on today's agenda is item PC five. That's PDE 250007.

2:14:52Oh you guys didn't call for public comment on chickens.

2:14:55Oh.

2:15:00we need to reopen the air. Is there anybody here that does want to speak about chicken? I'm thinking that you're mostly want to speak about trees. Is that right?

2:15:11Okay.

2:15:12Strong intuition. Okay. We're not ready

2:15:15yet, Nancy.

2:15:17Like we might have any bit of

2:15:19Can I say something about chickens?

2:15:23So if you want to I think we have to reopen the the hearing on the is it important, Nancy?

2:15:29No, it's just a comment. I give it to him to do something with it.

2:15:39Give her some eggs, John.

2:15:46Okay.