The existence of a nearby turkey production facility may preclude the City of Wayland from adopting a new ordinance allowing residents to raise chickens in their back yards.
The Wayland City Council Monday night voted 6-0 to reject an old proposed ordinance and tabled a proposal for a new local law. During discussion, it was noted that a representative from the Cooperative Extension Service at Michigan State University on Oct. 1 recommended against permitting raising chickens if there is a poultry production facility within four miles.
Council members Rick Mathis and Jennifer Antel said the presence of such a facility within that four miles could doom an ordinance to let up to 10 residents to raise chickens on their properties.
However, Councilwoman Lisa Banas suggested local officials show due diligence by researching what rules would govern close proximity of a turkey production family, the Dan Dykstra farm in 136th Avenue. She asked if the same rules would apply to residents just outside the city in Dorr and Leighton townships.
The council examined and rejected the old proposed ordinance and tabled a new one crafted by City Manager Joshua Eggleston. It is possible a vote could be held on the issue as early as the Nov. 5 meeting.
The proposed rules now under study would permit up to four chickens on as many as 10 properties within the city limits and set fees for maintaining them. They would be permitted by the zoning enforcement administrator, Professional Code Inspections.
In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the council:
• Approved on a 5-1 vote a purchase agreement for $20,000 with developers Josh Otto and Keith Nickels, who intended to develop an odd-shaped parcel within the industrial park on 133rd Avenue.
The two have not disclosed just what they plan to do with the property, which underwent some controversy last year because of the low price. City officials insisted they had been unable to sell the land for 19 years, so $20,000 is better than letting it sit idle.
When asked specifically what he and Otto plan to do with the property, Nickels simply replied, “Once we own the property, we’ll get started.”
• Learned from Eggleston that the city may soon have to decide to opt in or out of new marijuana rules if the state-wide ballot issue is passed in the Nov. 6 general election.
• Was told by City Water and Sewer Superintendent Ben Bachelder that hydrants are being flushed, so it may cause temporary discoloration of water.
