Windermere leaders vote against chicken ordinance

Windermere Town Council members turned down an ordinance during their Aug. 11 meeting that would allow residents to have backyard chickens.

The Town Land Code currently prohibits chickens in residential areas. According to town documents, the ordinance was drafted following interest from some residents in a backyard-chicken program.

The ordinance would have allowed residents to keep up to four hens per property. Chickens would have to be kept in coops or enclosures at all times unless the town manager granted accommodation to allow someone to interact with the chickens within a fenced backyard.

Additionally, the ordinance stated, chickens could not be slaughtered on premises, and owners could not sell eggs or breed chickens.

Council members voted to turn the ordinance down after hearing opposition from multiple town residents.

IN OTHER NEWS

• Town leaders approved an ordinance that prohibits alcoholic beverage in or on any public property, public recreation area or park, unless otherwise approved by the Town Council.
• Council members also approved both the Ward Trail concept and the design for paving Old Dirt Main (second to Rubio property).