Owosso Township chicken owners face removal; permit option drafted

Chickens are not allowed on residentially zoned land in Owosso Charter Township, and after an anonymous complaint the township is enforcing that rule. Residents who told the planning commission on Sept. 23 that they have kept backyard flocks for 15 and 30 years were told the ordinance stands as written — and that keeping the birds from here on is at their own risk.

"From this point, keeping the chickens is at the property owner's own risk," township attorney Lynn Bowne told the meeting, according to the minutes. Bowne said violations are generated by complaints, and that when a complaint comes in the ordinance has to be enforced.

Code enforcement officer Dave Chrenka laid out what that looks like: chickens are defined as farm animals, farm animals are not allowed in residential zones, and the usual path is a 30-day notice, then legal action and a possible fine through the court if the violation continues. Chrenka said he is the code enforcer for the area and that the job requires certain actions be taken even when people ask for an exception.

Most of the public comment came from one neighborhood. Don Shanahan of 1978 Bock Street said his chickens have been on the property for 15 years, are under control and provide eggs for local homeless people, and that he now has to remove them. Lana Garen of 1968 Bock Street said she has lived in the area 30 years, has had chickens the whole time and had no complaints until recently; Bowne told her the chickens are trespassing on other people's property. Alex Riabchenko of 1938 Bock Street said he would like to raise chickens and asked whether the township could tie farm animals to lot size. Karen Horn of 1802 South Chestnut asked whether the township could license chickens, and why other ordinances — she cited junk stored on a neighboring property — are not enforced.

The commission did not change the rule, but it did open a door. Under old business, commissioners said they want conditional use permit language added to the farm animals text amendment they have been drafting — covering numbers of birds, permission from neighbors, lot size and renewal. Commissioner Jonathan Archer asked to raise the draft's poultry cap from 12 to 30 chickens and to cut the acreage needed for large animals from two acres to one. Commissioner Terry Shuster asked whether a grandfather clause was possible; Bowne said that would be difficult. Planner Brandon Jonas will bring draft examples back, and said he will hold off on scheduling a public hearing until commissioners can review a new draft.

This is not a new file. The commission's Feb. 25 agenda already listed discussion of a text amendment on the raising and keeping of farm animals, alongside a battery energy storage systems amendment. As Shuster explained to the audience, the planning commission only drafts the language — the Owosso Township Board makes the decision.

The battery storage amendment moved further along the same night. Commissioners said draft #3 is ready for a public meeting. Archer asked whether commercial solar and wind language should be folded in, and Chair Dianna Wilson asked for clarification on a section of the draft. No hearing date is recorded in the minutes.

Commissioners also reviewed draft #3 of the master plan's community services chapter and implementation plan. Jonas said edits included a paragraph and a map on the Maple River.

What happens next: the township will hold a master plan open house from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, with visuals, survey results, maps and the draft goals and objectives available to the public, followed by the regular planning commission meeting at 6 p.m. The minutes do not say when the chicken permit language or the battery storage hearing will come back, or when any 30-day enforcement notice runs out.