Village of Oakfield resident Samantha Ilacqua is planning to petition the Village Board to allow for residents to raise chickens on their property at Monday evening’s regular Village Board meeting on Monday night.
“Residents in the Village of Oakfield, NY have been very loud with their desire about wanting to be able to raise chickens. Families should be able to know where their food came from, as well as be able to raise their own food, especially in these economic times. In January, an eighteen count of eggs was $8.42,” says Ilacqua.
About 24 hours ago, Ilacqua started a petition on Change.org and it is currently at 45 signatures.
Link below:
Petition · Allow Village of Oakfield Residents to Raise 6 Hens · Change.org
“I cannot think of a better time than now to allow village residents the right to grow their own food. Eggs are a staple in homes. I personally believe the wording of, “farm animals” is broad. If you have ever been around chickens, they are quiet, about the same decibels as humans having a conversation. There is a huge difference between having a goat or cow in your backyard versus having a few chickens. If I lived in the City of Batavia, I would be allowed six hens.”
Ilacqua is proposing that village residents be allowed six hens and no roosters as long as they are confined to the backyard and not creating a nuisance for neighbors, with certain standards such as appropriate protection in a well-maintained coop that is a reasonable distance from the property line.
The Village is holding their regularly scheduled Board Meeting on Monday, February 13th, 2023.
The meeting begins at 6:30p.m. and is held in the Board room at 39 Main Street, Oakfield, NY. Ilacqua and others will be addressing the Village Board in the Public comments section of the meeting.
Ilacqua says the topic was brought up a several years ago and the zoning law was not changed.
According to Village of Oakfield zoning laws, residents cannot stable farm animals and can only harbor domestic animals such as dogs, cats, caged birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, non-poisonous snakes, fish, turtles, frogs, mice and ferrets. Questions as whether a specific animal is a domestic animal will be decided by the Village Zoning Board of Appeals.
“I plan on doing a door-to-door petition in the future. I have found a lot of support from the posts I’ve made on a local Oakfield, NY Facebook group called “It takes a Village-Oakfield, New York” after talking to community members about it. I urge the board to listen to their community. We are asking and will continue to ask for the right to have chickens in the Village of Oakfield. If not now, then when?”