Winter Park Commission says no to backyard chickens

Did the Winter Park City Commission lay an egg during their last meeting? Pro-chicken residents in Winter Park would argue “yes.”

An item before the Winter Park City Commission requesting a discussion on a potential backyard chicken program failed not once, but twice during Monday’s meeting – a decision that ruffled feathers among residents hoping to keep their own chickens in the city of culture and heritage.

City staff had been instructed back in 2014 by the City Commission to monitor the backyard chicken pilot program in Orlando, which began in 2012. As of March 2016, a total of 58 chicken permits have been issued in Orlando with no reported complaints. Under Orlando’s program, a maximum of 75 permitted homes are allowed to have up to four hens.

Maitland started a chicken pilot program of their own back in late 2013, allowing a maximum of 50 homes to keep chickens. That pilot program was later turned into a permanent policy in June 2015.

And in Winter Park, the city’s own Keep Winter Park Beautiful and Sustainable Advisory Board unanimously recommended pursuing the pilot program during a meeting in October 2015.

But multiple City Commissioners were skeptical about having feathered friends in Winter Park backyards.

City Commissioner Sarah Sprinkel said she’s heard residents express “agricultural” concerns over a chicken pilot program in Winter Park, while Commissioner Peter Weldon said the potential of causing conflict in neighborhoods over chickens far outweighed any social benefits from keeping chickens.

“I don’t mind going on the record that somebody’s got to convince me that this is a good idea for our city,” Weldon said.

The item was cast aside by the City Commission after failing to receive three “head nods” to continue on and explore a chicken program. City Commissioner Greg Seidel and Mayor Steve Leary were the only members who expressed interest.

Some Winter Park residents, including Kimberly Murphy, have supported the idea of a chicken program since 2014, squawking that it wasn’t fair for the City Commission to not pursue a discussion over a pilot program after waiting for so long. The non-action item regarding the chickens did not allow public comment. Residents weren’t able to speak on the topic until after the City Commission had made its decision.

“This began in 2014 and it’s since been a very long road,” said Murphy, head of the Winter Park Backyard Chicken Initiative, a pro-chicken movement that has 542 likes on Facebook as of Wednesday.

“We were asked to wait for the pilot programs in Maitland and Orlando…. I think it’s extremely unfortunate that we’ve waited all this time just to be shot down in 5 minutes after two years of work.”

Murphy said that many residents prefer to know where their eggs come from, adding that chickens also encourage a more sustainable lifestyle.

“You’re not even letting us put our foot in the door,” Murphy said. “I respectfully request that you reconsider what you’ve decided today and that you not necessarily say ‘yes’ to chickens, but ‘yes’ to learning more. That way your decision is an informed one.”

Resident Shelby Caslow came to the meeting sporting a custom T-shirt bearing the image of her pet silkie bantam chicken, who currently resides at friend’s house in Orlando due to Winter Park codes prohibiting chickens. She told the City Commission that one of the biggest misconceptions about chickens is that hens need roosters to produce eggs. They produce eggs anyway, she said, meaning roosters crowing in the early hours won’t be a concern.

“I really support the chicken act,” Caslow said. “They’re such fantastic creatures. Their poop can be used for compost. Their eggs can nourish our families. The chickens actually eat bugs and eat weeds. There’s nothing about this creature that’s not sustainable.”

Commissioner Greg Seidel asked the City Commission at the end of the meeting if they’d consider discussing a chicken pilot program at a future meeting, taking into account the public input from residents.

Seidel and Cooper supported bringing the discussion back, but it failed once again without support from a third member of the Commission.

Leary told the Observer after the meeting that Seidel did not follow city procedure, as only a member of the majority can request to bring an item back.

The mayor added that it was unnecessary to bring the chicken discussion back, as there wasn’t any new information to be discussed.