Holmes Beach appears ready to allow chickens into the city.
An ordinance to allow residents to raise egg-laying hens within the city’s limits is on the March 12 commission agenda for final approval.
A 4-1 vote last month approved the new rule on chickens on first reading.
Commissioners in favor of the measure say it will encourage learning opportunities for children and return people to a natural food source.
At press time before the March 12 meeting, Commissioner Pat Morton was against approving chickens, saying he foresaw a future enforcement problem in the beach community.
The city has a long-standing regulation prohibiting farm animals.
If passed, the ordinance will prohibit more than four hens and roosters; slaughtering of chickens, and any selling of eggs or other chicken products; chickens in front yards; chickens closer than 10 feet to an adjacent property and 25 feet from a neighboring home; and odors and pest-infested chicken feed.
Other matters on the March 12 agenda included:
• First reading of a party-wall ordinance, changing the code to eliminate the provision that allows two or more structures to be built separately on a common foundation.
• First reading of a one-dock-per-shore-frontage ordinance, including dock location and setback requirements and how shoreline length is determined under condominium ownership.
• Consideration of two appointments to the Municipal Police Officers’ Pension Trust Fund Board of Trustees.