Poll: Should Chickens Be Allowed in Fox Point?

Controversy recently struck Fox Point when a local family decided it wanted to raise four chickens within the village limits. However, this would violate village ordinances because Fox Point residents are not allowed to have critters besides cats and dogs on residential property for longer than 24 hours.

The ordinance reads:

27.14 KEEPING ANIMALS. The maintenance of one or more horses, cattle, fowl, swine or goats in the village is hereby declared to be a nuisance and possession or maintenance thereof in the village is hereby prohibited, except the possession within the village of one of any said classes of animals for 24 hours or less at intervals of not less than eight days is permitted.

At the September board meeting, a local family brought it to the attention that many other surrounding communities are making the move toward sustainable living. River Hills in spring passed an ordinance to allow chickens and bees, according to JSOnline.com. Milwaukee also passed a year-long trial ordinance that allows chickens with "tight restrictions," JSOnline reports.

In .

The board asked Village Attorney Eric Larson to draft an ordinance to similar to those adopted by the City of Milwaukee and Village of River Hills. This will be reviewed at the Nov. 8 board meeting.