My name is Riley Ball. I am 10 years old and I live with my parents at 893 Old Muskoka Road in Utterson. We live on three quarters of an acre of land 'in the country'. Our property is zoned Rural Residential. Two years ago I got some laying hens that I take care of every day and collect their eggs. I have learned a lot about being responsible and how to grow your own food.
But there is a problem. Backyard hens are allowed only if you have one acre of land, and we fall short of that requirement. I think it's time that the rules around backyard hens in the Town of Huntsville’s zoning bylaw are looked at again. If the bylaw doesn’t get changed, my hens have to go. I think that backyard hens should be allowed in the country no matter what size your property is because that's where they belong.
My parents have done a lot of research, and this is what they told me: In 2013, Huntsville Town Council changed the rules to allow backyard hens in the urban area of Huntsville on properties zoned Residential 1 and Residential 2 as long as the property is one acre in size. The one-acre minimum lot size rule is the same for the Rural Residential zone even though the zoning and the characteristics of these lots are so different. The Residential 1 & 2 zoning requires much smaller road frontage and lot area in comparison to Rural Residential lots. Rural Residential lots are generally much larger and require more road frontage. If backyard hens are allowed in town, I think they should be allowed in the Rural Residential zone regardless of lot area.
It's time for change! By signing this petition, you are showing support for backyard hens in the Rural Residential zone without a lot area requirement. By signing this petition, you are helping to demonstrate to Huntsville Town Council and town staff that it's time to update that section of the Town of Huntsville’s Zoning Bylaw to support healthy, sustainable rural living.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 6, 2018
October 3, 2018
The momentum behind this petition is encouraging as we approach five hundred signatures. Please take a moment to forward this link to your neighbors to help us reach this important milestone.
Reached 100 supporters
September 20, 2018
September 18, 2018
The number of people endorsing this change is steadily increasing. Reaching one hundred signatures will provide a significant foundation for our upcoming presentation to the council. Please highlight this petition within your own social circles to help us reach that objective.
215 Comments
This law needs to be updated, if your land is rural residential it should be a no brainer, its not like they are living in a subdivision where the neighbor is 2 ft away! Not to mention the responsibility this young man is learning!
Appreciating animals and treating them fairly while also growing your own food is an impressive value that this young man clearly has! I support Riley and his family and truly hope he gets to keep his hens! <3
No different from the Victory gardens, if you provide for your family and make sure you adequately look after the hens the this is a non issue. It is also a great learning experience for children.
Ridiculous on land size requirements for chickens. Really !! Isn’t there other things are more important that petty stuff. Riley and his brother DJ are students on my bus. They great young men, maybe more children need to learn small farm lifestyle.
Always in support of laying hens. Acreage shouldn’t determine if you can support hens. The condition and size of their pen, food they receive, water, love.... all much more important than the size of land someone home is on.
Backyard hens bring joy, responsibility, and sustainability.
Butt Nuggets Out.
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My name is Riley Ball. I am 10 years old and I live with my parents at 893 Old Muskoka Road in Utterson. We live on three quarters of an acre of land 'in the country'. Our property is zoned Rural Residential. Two years ago I got some laying hens that I take care of every day and collect their eggs. I have learned a lot about being responsible and how to grow your own food.
But there is a problem. Backyard hens are allowed only if you have one acre of land, and we fall short of that requirement. I think it's time that the rules around backyard hens in the Town of Huntsville’s zoning bylaw are looked at again. If the bylaw doesn’t get changed, my hens have to go. I think that backyard hens should be allowed in the country no matter what size your property is because that's where they belong.
My parents have done a lot of research, and this is what they told me: In 2013, Huntsville Town Council changed the rules to allow backyard hens in the urban area of Huntsville on properties zoned Residential 1 and Residential 2 as long as the property is one acre in size. The one-acre minimum lot size rule is the same for the Rural Residential zone even though the zoning and the characteristics of these lots are so different. The Residential 1 & 2 zoning requires much smaller road frontage and lot area in comparison to Rural Residential lots. Rural Residential lots are generally much larger and require more road frontage. If backyard hens are allowed in town, I think they should be allowed in the Rural Residential zone regardless of lot area.
It's time for change! By signing this petition, you are showing support for backyard hens in the Rural Residential zone without a lot area requirement. By signing this petition, you are helping to demonstrate to Huntsville Town Council and town staff that it's time to update that section of the Town of Huntsville’s Zoning Bylaw to support healthy, sustainable rural living.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 6, 2018
October 3, 2018
The momentum behind this petition is encouraging as we approach five hundred signatures. Please take a moment to forward this link to your neighbors to help us reach this important milestone.
Reached 100 supporters
September 20, 2018
September 18, 2018
The number of people endorsing this change is steadily increasing. Reaching one hundred signatures will provide a significant foundation for our upcoming presentation to the council. Please highlight this petition within your own social circles to help us reach that objective.
215 Comments
Everyone with a backyard should be able to keep chickens. We need to br more self sufficent and this is a great way of doing so. I am a retired dairy farmer and stand behind this family. A cap on the number would be advisable for all small plot situations.
This law needs to be updated, if your land is rural residential it should be a no brainer, its not like they are living in a subdivision where the neighbor is 2 ft away! Not to mention the responsibility this young man is learning!
Appreciating animals and treating them fairly while also growing your own food is an impressive value that this young man clearly has! I support Riley and his family and truly hope he gets to keep his hens! <3
No different from the Victory gardens, if you provide for your family and make sure you adequately look after the hens the this is a non issue. It is also a great learning experience for children.
Ridiculous on land size requirements for chickens. Really !! Isn’t there other things are more important that petty stuff. Riley and his brother DJ are students on my bus. They great young men, maybe more children need to learn small farm lifestyle.
Always in support of laying hens. Acreage shouldn’t determine if you can support hens. The condition and size of their pen, food they receive, water, love.... all much more important than the size of land someone home is on.
Backyard hens bring joy, responsibility, and sustainability.
Butt Nuggets Out.
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Everyone with a backyard should be able to keep chickens. We need to br more self sufficent and this is a great way of doing so. I am a retired dairy farmer and stand behind this family. A cap on the number would be advisable for all small plot situations.