A proposal to allow backyard chickens in a wider area of James City County is again slated to go before the Board of Supervisors.
On Tuesday the supervisors will examine a set of proposed changes to the county’s zoning regulations, which would allow chicken keeping in an additional residential area. The county’s Planning Commission reviewed the changes on May 7 and voted 4-2-1 to request the supervisors deny the proposed changes; one commissioner was absent for the vote.
Chickens are currently allowed in more than 49 percent of the county; if the proposed changes are approved, another 5 percent would be included.
The proposed regulation would allow up to 12 backyard chickens on properties larger than 15,000 square feet, and the size of the lot would stipulate the number of allowed birds. Roosters would not be allowed, nor would egg and meat sales. Residents would not be allowed to kill chickens on their property.
Before putting the regulation before the full commission, the Planning Commission Policy Committee spent several meetings reviewing the proposal and hearing from residents. When the regulation finally made it to the full commission, seven residents spoke in favor of it.
The Board of Supervisors will host its own public hearing Tuesday to hear from any residents in favor of or against the proposal.
Also slated to go before the board Tuesday is a request to add up to 147 homes to Kingsmill. The Planning Commission on Wednesday reviewed the request, voted in a tie and is making no recommendation on whether to approve or deny the request to the board. About 50 residents – including 10 speakers – turned out for the public hearing before the commission. The supervisors will also hold a public hearing on the plan.
Other items on the board’s agenda include:
- A $5.6 million construction contract award to A.R. Chesson Construction Company Inc. for the new Fire Station 1 in Toano,
- A request to add a 30,000 propane storage tank at Amerigas in the Hankins Industrial Park,
- Changes to the county’s accessory apartments regulations,
- A request to build Hampton Roads Sanitation District a134-foot microwave tower at 300 Ron Springs Drive, and
- A request to submit an application for a new enterprise zone designation.
The board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Building F at 101 Mounts Bay Road. The full meeting agenda, and information on how to view the meeting online and on TV, is available on the county’s website.
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