More chicken coops could be coming to backyards soon, after Airdrie city council approved an extension and expansion of the City’s urban agriculture pilot project at a regular meeting April 20.
According to Senior Planner Gail Gibeau, there has been an increased interest in the initiative from some residents, given the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on food supplies.
"With recent events, there is an increased interest in the community for backyard hens, with many residents citing food security as a concern," she said. "If we were to fast-track a potential city-wide implementation, staff is recommending that council extend the pilot project to Nov. 30. This would allow residents to have hens on their property without contravening existing bylaws."
Council's decision will allow the pilot project to continue until the end of November, Gibeau said, and will also allow an increased number of participants.
Established in the fall of 2018, the Backyard Hens Pilot Project was created to provide Airdrie residents the opportunity to learn about and explore alternative options for integrating local food and urban agriculture. The pilot project originally allowed up to 20 households to keep a maximum of four hens on their property, as long as the property was larger than 400 square metres.
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Gibeau said an online questionnaire was used to solicit feedback from the participating households in November 2019. The City also gauged feedback from the neighbours of the project's participants the following month. According to Gibeau, 10 out of 29 households responded, and only one neighbour was opposed, citing a "philosophical" opposition to having hens in urban environments.
"Overall, based on all the feedback received, staff has determined there is sufficient support in the community for city-wide implementation," she said. "Planning and Development staff are working with internal stakeholders on a proposed implementation strategy that will include amendments to existing bylaws – specifically, the Animal Control and the Land Use Bylaws. Under these bylaws, backyard hens are not allowed, unless they are part of the urban agriculture program."
With council's decision, the pilot project will now allow up to 100 residences to participate, and the minimum parcel size has been decreased to 300 square metres. Another amendment approved by council allows a maximum of just two hens on lots that are smaller than 400 square feet to help mitigate any impact on adjacent properties.
The City of Airdrie also runs an Urban Beekeeping Pilot Project, which is set to conclude in November. Similar to the backyard hens, the beekeeping pilot project allows 20 residential properties and 10 non-residential properties to each operate a maximum of two beehives.
According to Gibeau, City staff will gauge responses from the participants in August and update council before the end of the pilot project. According to Gibeau's report, "staff will be providing a comprehensive report to council on the results of both pilot projects, complete with recommendations."
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
