Libertyville Trustees Reject Chicken Pilot Program Proposal

In the interest of sustainable food, property rights and Libertyville's "Spirit of Independence," Sean Gay thinks allowing residents to keep chickens in their backyards is a good idea.

"I think we're just looking for a test program," Gay said of a proposed pilot program that would have allowed up to five residents in the village to keep up to three hens in coops on quarter-acre lots. "I think we should give it a shot and see what happens."

But not everyone shared his sentiments. Joe Russo, a Libertyville resident for 40 years, expressed concerns about predators being attracted by the smell of the chicken coop. He said those predators would pose a safety risk to residents.

"It's a farm animal, and I don't think we're a farming community on quarter-acre lots," said Russo. 

Trustees, many of whom expressed similar concerns, voted Tuesday night to reject a proposal to direct village staff to craft an ordinance allowing the chicken pilot pogrom. 

The existing village ordinance allows residents who live on lots of at least five acres to raise chickens. Some residents, however, asked trustees to consider allowing that chickens be raised on smaller lots. The issue was discussed at a Special Projects Committee meeting in October, at which time the motion to adopt a chicken pilot program failed with a 2-1 vote. 

Tuesday night's vote failed 4-1.

"I just don't see this kind of option being appropriate here," said Trustee Donna Johnson. She expressed concerns about the potential for escape, possible odors from the chicken coops, health risks to surrounding areas and possible noise.
 
Trustee Richard Moras, whose brother raises chickens in the Wadsworth area, said in looking into the chicken issue, "it's been really difficult weighing the pros and cons." He noted that the response from the Libertyville community has been "overwhelmingly against" allowing chickens on quarter-acre lots. 

While he's not absolutely against such a program, Moras said that since other communities have started similar pilot programs, it would be prudent for Libertyville to wait and see what conclusions those communities draw before embarking on a similar program.

Trustee Todd Gaines said he is concerned about protecting property values in the village.

"We have to realize that people don't want to live in an agricultural environment," said Gaines. "We have too much density. There's too many quarter-acre lots in Libertyville, too close. That's why I think the current ordinance, five acres, is appropriate."

Trustee James Moran was the sole trustee to vote in favor of the chicken pilot program at both the Special Projects Committee meeting and Tuesday night's village board meeting.

Moran said in conducting research on the issue, he visited two homes—one in unincorporated Mundelein and another in Lake Forest—that keep chickens. In neither case was there an odor or noise, Moran said. The Mundelein property, he noted, had 12 chickens in coops. 

"The biggest impact on the neighbors is that they get excited because they have a source of fresh eggs," said Moran. He added that the homeowners at both locations said they hadn't experienced issues with predators.

"The key to that is the regulation of having a properly-constructed chicken coop," said Moran. 

Residents: Would you be in favor of allowing the raising of chickens on quarter-acre lots in Libertyville? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments.