CEDAR CITY – The city council, July 28, decided to postpone a decision on keeping chickens in residential zones until after councilors attend an urban agriculture workshop at the September Utah League of Cities and Towns convention.

Councilor Nina Barnes said she feels keeping chickens is a growing trend nationally and it might be beneficial for the councilors to see what kind of insight is offered at the workshop.

Though Councilor Dale Brinkerhoff and previously made a motion to approve an ordinance allowing chickens in residential zones, he withdrew the motion and the council tabled the decision until after the convention.

He said he didn’t feel too strongly one way or another about chickens, but is passionate about people’s property rights. His motion had included a limit of 12 chickens and a review period of one year. Roosters would still not have been allowed.

The planning commission’s recommendation to the councilors had been that they should allow keeping chickens in residential areas, but it was concerned about the number. It suggested allowing no more than six chickens on a property.

Brinkerhoff said they had heard concerns July 22 that six would not be an adequate number for egg production, so his motion was to allow up to 12.

Councilor Steve Wood said although there is a current ordinance prohibiting chickens, there are a lot of people in the city who do have them. Several residents spoke at the July 22 work meeting both in favor and in opposition of allowing chickens.

At the July 28 action meeting residents asked the council not to approve the ordinance, saying chickens are messy and cause problems for neighbors. One man said once the city allows chickens then they will have to look at goats, horses and other agricultural animals.

Another man was concerned because there are areas with Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions that prohibit chickens. City Attorney Paul Bittmenn said CC&R’s have the right to do that, but the homeowner’s association has to be the enforcing body.

Basically, he said, if the city allows chickens, keeping chickens in those areas will no longer be a city ordinance violation and will only be a CC&R violation.

City Manager Ron Chandler said he had had some discussions with other cities that have recently passed ordinances, and the feedback had been favorable toward allowing chickens.

Wood said he would like to hear what other cities do and have discussions at the September workshop.

The council also heard from a resident with concerns about the parking issue at The Lake at the Hills. She said she is disabled and unable to carry her kayak the distance required.

Barnes said several issues have come up with accessibility and dogs.

Chandler said once the Aquatic Center is completed there will be some permanent solutions to those accessibility issues.

Mayor Joe Burgess said he would set up a meeting with the council, the parks and recreation committee, and the Cedar Disability Action Committee to look at those issues in the meantime.

“We know that it’s far from ideal right now,” he said.

Coming up, the council will hear from organizations requesting donations during a special work meeting and public hearing next Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in the council chambers. The allocating of those donations will be on the action agenda at that evening’s 5:30 meeting.