Politics & Government

Update: Hudson Common Council Approves Backyard Chicken Proposal

Update: Chickens are coming to Hudson.
The Hudson Common Council on Monday night voted 5-1 to approve the proposal. Council Member Rich Vanselow was the lone dissenting vote.
The proposal will go back to the Public Safety Committee next week to draft the language for the ordinance.
Check back for updates on this story.
Original: The backyard chicken debate will come to roost Monday at the city of Hudson Common Council meeting.
Currently, city code does not allow residents to own, harbor or keep any livestock within the city limits, but urban chicken advocates hope the Hudson Common Council will consider passing an ordinance allowing backyard chickens within city limits—at least for a one-year trial period.
The proposal got its first hearing earlier this month before the Public Safety Committee where it was not recommended on a 2-1 vote—Council Members Mary Yacoub and Rich Vanselow voted against the proposal, while Council Member John Hoggatt voted to recommend it.
Although the commission voted not to recommend the proposal, the Hudson Urban Chickens group have said they will not give up.

This week, Vanselow told Hudson Patch he will keep an open mind to the proposal, but he has yet to find information saying it was a bad idea for livestock to be banned from city limits in the first place.
"I've gotten a lot of emails about this issue," Vanselow said. "I've received a lot of information about backyard hens, read a lot of comments on Patch and heard a lot of concerns from people on both sides of it."
However Monday night's vote turns out, Vanselow said he has a lot of respect for the people bringing the proposal before the council.
"I really respect their approach," he said. "They are advocating for the issue with a lot of facts and information. They are addressing the issue, not attacking people, which happens here in Hudson.
"I respect when people get involved about issues they care deeply about," Vanselow continued, "and bring forth good civic discussions regardless of what side of the issue they are on."


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