It was a packed house at last week’s Kirkland Town Board meeting.
Residents of the Town filled the municipal building to voice concerns over the proposed local law dealing with Farm and Fowl.
With social distancing practiced in the meeting hall, residents had to line up in the hallway and wait for their turn to voice their issues. Three letters of concern were also submitted to the Town.
Most residents at the meeting were against the proposal. “Don’t punish the responsible for the irresponsible,” one resident said. Another said the proposed law is “too broad and too far sweeping.”
Addressing the board, an area resident said, “This law looks like a solution in search of a problem.” Another said it was “needless litigation.” The audience applauded.
The proposed law reads: “It shall be unlawful for any person, whether licensed or not, situate within a residentially zoned district to keep, harbor, shelter, maintain, raise or house temporarily or permanently, farm animals or fowl in the Town of Kirkland. For purposes of this Article a farm animal or fowl shall mean any domestic species of animal that is kept and raised for use as food, in production of food, or in operation of a farm which are customarily raised for commercial and subsistence purposes, including without limitation, cows, cattle, horses, ponies, donkeys, mules, pigs, goats, sheep, buffalo, alpacas, llamas, honey bees, roosters, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea, fowl, ostriches or other animals or fowl, excluding common household pets or companion animal.
Companion animals are not a farm animal or fowl as defined in this article.”
Residents also made the argument that chickens should be allowed because…