<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=41m7rX_0qhpJIua00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=41m7rX_0qhpJIua00" width="760" height="506" > The Waunakee Village Board has adopted an amendment to the village’s municipal code that will allow the keeping of chickens in residential and educational zoning districts. The vote took place at the board’s Tuesday, Jan. 2 meeting following a public hearing on the amendment. The change now permits residents to own up to four chickens on properties that fall within the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3D residential zoning districts. Meanwhile, educational institutions zoned under G-1 can keep up to 15 chickens. No roosters will be allowed for either situation. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Residents will have to secure a license through the village clerk to become chicken owners. They will also be required to build a coop and obtain the corresponding accessory building permit for the structure. A copy of the amendment and its changes are in the agenda packer for the Jan. 2 meeting on the village's website. Those throughout Waunakee should note that Homeowners Associations (HOAs) still maintain the ability to disallow the keeping of chickens should they choose to do so. Those who are a part of an HOA will have to check and ensure that chickens are allowed in their neighborhood before moving forward. At the Dec. 12 Plan Commission meeting commission members recommended the village board split the amendment in two parts. The first would have only permitted the keeping of chickens for the G-1 educational zone, which they recommended adopting. The second would have addressed the same for residential zones, which the commission did not recommend adopting. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Ultimately, it was a 5-2 vote by the village board in favor of adopting both portions of the amendment that made the decision final. Village President Kristin Runge and Trustee Joe Zitzelsberger were the only two to vote against the change. President Runge explained the reasons for her "nay" vote at the Jan. 2 meeting: “I hope kids I know raise chickens; we won’t be doing it ourselves. However, I’m the chair of the Plan Commission, so I’ll be voting in accordance with their recommendation so that their voice is heard,” said President Runge, “This was discussed over several meetings. There were some really thoughtful pro opinions and some really thoughtful con opinions.” During the discussion, Trustee Nila Frye stated her support for the change was due to how many times she had heard the request from residents. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Trustee Robert McPherson, who has been an advocate for the change in recent months, had a similar reason for being in favor. He said, “I too was asked by many people to ‘please’ pass a chicken ordinance, so it’s about time.” <nbtemplate data-content="eyJhcGlLZXkiOiAiZDgxM2Q5Yzg3NTI3N2IzNWU0YzRmZDM0NTAyMjJkNmQiLCAiZGVzY3JpcHRpb24iOiAiU3Vic2NyaWJlIHRvIFdhdW5ha2VlIFRyaWJ1bmUiLCAiZXZlbnQiOiAibXBfc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uX2J1dHRvbl9jbGlja19ldmVudCIsICJ1cmwiOiAiaHR0cHM6Ly9hcGcwNi5uZXd6d2FyZS5jb20vc3M3MHYyL2FkYW1zL2NvbW1vbi90ZW1wbGF0ZS5qc3A_aW5pdD1zdGFydCZpbml0RWRpdGlvbj1XS1QmcnBhZ2U9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG5nbmV3cy5jb20vd2F1bmFrZWVfdHJpYnVuZS8iLCAibWVkaWFJZCI6IDE1OTM3MzYsICJ0aXRsZSI6ICJXYXVuYWtlZSBWaWxsYWdlIEJvYXJkIGFwcHJvdmVzIGtlZXBpbmcgb2YgY2hpY2tlbnMifQ==" data-id="MediaPlatformAmplitudeButton"></nbtemplate></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

The Waunakee Village Board has adopted an amendment to the village’s municipal code that will allow the keeping of chickens in residential and educational zoning districts. The vote took place at the board’s Tuesday, Jan. 2 meeting following a public hearing on the amendment.
                The change now permits residents to own up to four chickens on properties that fall within the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3D residential zoning districts. Meanwhile, educational institutions zoned under G-1 can keep up to 15 chickens. No roosters will be allowed...