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Poultry was on everyone’s mind at the board meeting of the Cameron Park Community Services District.
Richard Kirlin, a resident on La Canada Drive, pled his case before the board to keep his six pet chickens, saying he wanted to be known as the “chicken guy of Cameron Park.”
Previously the CC&R Committee had told him he had to remove the birds because of existing rules on keeping livestock or poultry.
According to the CC&Rs, “No animals, livestock, or poultry of any kind shall be raised, bred, or kept on any residential lot … except dogs, cats, or other small household pets …
Kirlin maintained that his hens were all pets, had names, and were well cared for. He asked for the time to collect 200 signatures from residents to amend the CC&Rs. In the course of the discussion the definition of poultry got a working over as board members, the public, and Kirlin discussed the finer points of whether a bird in a cage was also poultry or if the term only applied if one was actually eating the bird.
Several public members spoke for and against the chickens. Resident Gerald Lillpop said he didn’t want chickens in his neighborhood and claimed that county zoning prohibited them in an R-1 area.
Kirlin countered, saying Lillpop was incorrect.
Vicky Neibauer thought Kirlin should be allowed the time to collect signatures. That was followed by a discussion of which rules would dictate the final decision.
After several convoluted motions, the board voted to first determine if the presence of chickens violates county zoning, and if not, to allow Kirlin one month to collect the first 100 signatures. If, on the other hand, county zoning prohibits the chickens, then they will have to go.
As resident Joe Thuesen commented at the end of the debate, “I guess the cluck stops here.”
Contact Dawn Hodson at 530-344-5071 or dhodson@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @DHodsonMtDemo on Twitter.
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
DarrinOctober 19, 2012 - 8:48 am
We have chickens, as long as there is a restriction to disallow any roosters and allow only hens there should be no question about the ability to have chickens on your own land. Our 7 chickens are not nearly as annoying and loud as the barking dogs that surround us. Non stop barking at all hours of the day and night. There is an online petition site that you could use to get a lot of signatures quite quickly. I am not sure how you would restrict it to your area, but maybe make it a private petition and only accessible by sending emails to those who are interested. Check it out at http://www.change.org.
Gerald LillpopOctober 20, 2012 - 5:46 am
Dear Ms. Hodson I love your title for this article. However, I have checked with the county planning department and I was right R1 zoning does not allow for farm animals, poultry (chickens) or livestock to be kept on any property zoned R1. The zoning ordinances in El Dorado County are what as know as “Permissible Use” ordinances. That means that the only things allowed by the ordinance is what is elaborated in the ordinance. Keeping livestock in an R1 zoned area is not expressly elaborated on in the R1 zoning ordinance so according to the county planning office it is not allowed. And what I said was El Dorado County distinguishes between living in town and living in the country. My point was and is I live in town for a reason and one of those reasons is to avoid living near livestock. I have no problem with anyone who wants to live in the country and have a farm animals it’s just not appropriate in town.
CarolineOctober 20, 2012 - 2:12 pm
Just what type of community is Cameron Park? Rural or Urban? If that is what back-yard hen zoning comes down to, I would like to weigh in. In Cameron Park, we do not have bike lanes or sidewalks, we allow horses (on larger properties), we have repeatedly closed the door on box stores appearing N of 50 & S of Country Club Drive, we have a bird estuary for all those beautiful and noisy honkers (that we have to pay to access during half of the year). Despite the fact that we may not be a truly urban community, the backyard flock revolution is happening all over America. The city of Sacramento recently changed its ordinances to allow for residents to keep 3 backyard hens. In the bigger picture how can we improve our urbane rural community...If the CC&R would like to be active in creating an ideal community they could focus on enforcing the eyesores that have the potential to devalue properties and increase crime. I get tired of seeing the 3’ high overgrown and weedy lawns, the inoperable-unregistered vehicles or residents parking on lawns. The trash along the streets and the very real dog barking problem in the wee-hours are other matters the CC&R should be taking leadership in addressing. For the residents that have the acreage to own a horse for pleasure or an address to start their airplane in their driveway at 5 in the morning, we have been neighborly, supportive and accepting, and will continue to be. There are many young families on fixed incomes and smaller properties that would be delighted to have the experience of caring for quiet hens that bring great pleasure, give organic, all natural eggs which fetch upwards of $8/dozen at the grocer. (Hens sleep through the night and eat weeds as well.) It’s time for more progress to be made in Cameron Park. Where’s the petition?
shakingmyheadOctober 20, 2012 - 4:01 pm
The more I read from you and about you Gerald Lillpop, I've come to the conclusion that you are a fuddy-duddy and a grumpy old man. HELLO!! Sacramento allows backyard chickens. So much for the "urban" theory. Mr. Kirlin, I am sorry that this is happening to you. Many of us have (or have had) backyard chickens as pets, as well as for fresh eggs. In this economy, being able to have your own fresh eggs is important. Who's with me? We need to tell the county we want our backyard chicken ordinance!
DarrinOctober 20, 2012 - 7:36 pm
So, is Lillipud is right, we need a county wide petition to allow chickens. Lets do it! Sign up here - http://www.change.org/petitions/el-dorado-county-planning-department-el-dorado-county-ca-allow-chickens-specifically-hens-not-roosters Short link - http://chn.ge/ReGV8c
DarrinOctober 21, 2012 - 9:11 am
Mr. Lillipop, could you please send me the specific language in the Zoning Ordinance that states that chickens (or farm animals) are not allowed. If you can cite page or section, that would be helpful. I find it interesting going through the complete document for the El Dorado county Zoning Ordinance I do not see where R1 is restricted however I do see on page 137 it states stables are allowed. Stables are generally used for farm animals. Section 17.28.020 I. Uses permitted by right. Noncommercial accessory uses and buildings, including one swimming pool, one garage,one boathouse, one stable (provided the stable is located on a lot of one acre or more). at http://bit.ly/RjXzTs http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/Government/Planning/ZoningOrdNov2010/CompleteOrdinance_112010.aspx
DarrinOctober 21, 2012 - 9:12 am
Mr. Lillpop, could you please send me the specific language in the Zoning Ordinance that states that chickens (or farm animals) are not allowed. If you can cite page or section, that would be helpful. I find it interesting going through the complete document for the El Dorado county Zoning Ordinance I do not see where R1 is restricted however I do see on page 137 it states stables are allowed. Stables are generally used for farm animals. Section 17.28.020 I. Uses permitted by right. Noncommercial accessory uses and buildings, including one swimming pool, one garage,one boathouse, one stable (provided the stable is located on a lot of one acre or more). http://bit.ly/RjXzTs
Gerald LillpopOctober 21, 2012 - 11:25 am
Dear Caroline, shakingmyhead, Darrin one thing at a time. Caroline until the county or Cameron Park apporves the backyard chicken nonsense it is against the CC&R’s and County Code. I don’t care what the rules are in other places. I live in Cameron Park not Aptos or Sacramento. As to weedy lawns call Lyle Eickert, CC&R Compliance Officer, leickert@cameronpark.org, 530.350-4654. If the site you are talking about has CC&R’s that cover your concerns he will investigate and bring the property in to compliance. Shakingmyhead you don’t know me. Darrin here is the information for obtaining what you want http://co.el-dorado.ca.us/Planning/ click on the ordinances link, click on zoning ordinances link. As to what Sacramento allows Mr. Kirlin can move there and keep his chickens. I live where I do so I can enjoy the life style I like. Oh and everyone use your full real names. I do.
DarrinOctober 22, 2012 - 9:15 am
Mr. Lillpop, could you please site the section that disallows farm animals, as you stated.I have looked in the document for the El Dorado county Zoning Ordinance I do not see where R1 is restricted however I do see on page 137 it states stables are allowed. Stables are generally used for farm animals. Section 17.28.020 I. Uses permitted by right. Noncommercial accessory uses and buildings, including one swimming pool, one garage,one boathouse, one stable (provided the stable is located on a lot of one acre or more). at www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/Government/Planning/