Maumelle aldermen reject chickens

After weeks of discussion, Maumelle aldermen rejected legislation Monday that would have allowed chickens to be kept in residential backyards.

The ordinance to allow residents inside city limits to keep up to six chickens at least 20 feet from a neighboring house failed 6- 2. Aldermen John Vaprezsan, who sponsored the ordinance, and Preston Lewis were the only votes for the legislation.

Three residents spoke on the issue Monday, the fourth meeting in which it had been on the agenda, with two speaking in favor. In past meetings, 13 total residents commented on the issue, with six being in favor, five against and two expressing concerns about how to regulate the raising of chickens.

Urban chicken farming has become popular across the country, giving city residents a small- farm experience and fresh eggs. Opposition usually centers on problems with health issues, cleanliness, noise and odor.

Alderman Jess Holt said during Monday’s 20- minute discussion that he had received 11 emails on the topic, with nine being against having chickens. Eight of those nine, he added, were from local real estate agents. Holt also questioned city Animal Services Director Rita Cavenaugh, whose staff of six would have been charged with overseeing and enforcing city code for residents with chickens. The staff also would have been responsible for any chickens given up by residents.

“It sounds as though your hands are full,” Holt said. “We need other employees, and we don’t have the money to put that in place.”

Rena Pederson told the City Council that she was against the city allowing chickens because Maumelle “is too small and is becoming too dense for anything like that.”

David Osborne and Amanda James spoke in favor of allowing chickens. James said supporters tried to follow proper procedures to get the ordinance before the City Council and present their reasons based on research instead of only expressing their opinions.

“Most of the opposition’s opinions are based on ‘ I don’t like it, so you shouldn’t vote for it,’” Osborne said, reading a statement he said was written by Eric Desjardin, who originally took the concept to the City Council. “To me and several others, this [ having chickens] is a big deal.”