Fox Point 'Chicken Ordinance' Defeated; Trustee Criticizes Resources Spent
After months of debate, chicken ordinance voted down 4-2.
A discussion about chickens lasted four months and cost the village about $5,000 in attorney’s fees, according to one Fox Point trustee.
That was too much for Douglas Frazer, who was among four trustees on Tuesday to reject the request from resident Jeff Ziebelman have chickens live on his property.
"It's my feeling that we've misplaced our priorities here and we've lost our way," Frazer said. "I'm going to vote no."
He contrasted the lengthy dialogue on the “chicken ordinance” with a vote last June to deny the Daughters of Charity permission to live together in a Fox Point home. The women, five unrelated parishioners of St. Vincent de Paul, are part of a group that has ministered in the Milwaukee area since 1842. Village ordinances say only up to three, unrelated adults can live in Fox Point in the same home, and the women were denied an exception.
"These were five accomplished women and the board turned them away. ... And yet, we're here falling all over ourselves for a chicken ordinance," Frazer said.
The final vote was 4-2 against the proposed ordinance. Ziebelman could not be immediately reached for comment.
Jane Klein
6:57 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I don't think the attorney's fees are a complete waste when there is so much interest in raising chickens, and in our surrounding communities as well. Even the Patch poll is 64% for, 31% against. Maybe the board is a bit out of touch...
Sarah Worthman
12:30 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thanks for the comment, Jane. So, are you disappointed then that the ordinance was voted down? Did you want to see chickens?
Kris
12:43 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I don't understand his need to compare last summer's discussion with this one. Two completely different issues, to be debated on their own merit. I think chickens should have been allowed, by the way, and I think the women should have been granted an exception. I think Fox Point trustees are overzealous in their need to keep things sterile and buttoned down here.
Jane Klein
2:16 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I don't personally want to keep chickens, but we have friends in other parts of the country who have chickens and they live in expensive suburban communities. Martha Stewart has had chickens for a long time. The eggs taste so different from what we buy at the grocery store.
Jane Klein
2:18 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Sorry that first sentence reads kind of funny - the friends I was referring to live in expensive communities, not just their chickens!
Jane Klein
2:21 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Did the board do any research as to whether lots of problems have arisen with keeping chickens in the municipalities that allow it?
Jane Klein
3:02 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Kris, maybe what Frazer meant was that if the board is not about to allow any exceptions or changes to life in Fox Point then it certainly shouldn't run up any legal fees before voting on an issue.