Shrewsbury to Consider Urban Chickens

is planning to join the flock of St. Louis metro area municipalities that have considered ordinances allowing residents to keep urban chickens.

The city's board of aldermen was approached nearly a year ago by a citizen interested in keeping chickens on his property. The issue has been on the board's backburner since then, but Mayor Felicity Buckley said she is moving the topic forward in hopes of reaching a decision by the spring.
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"We are not going to be casting a vote tonight. We are just trying to orient everybody," she said. "We will look at it carefully the next meeting. We will try to wrap this up by March."

Unlike the raucous meetings most recently, the agenda item only drew a handful of citizens. The only one to address the council was Michael O'Hare, who spoke in favor of such an ordinance and brought several supporters with him.

As support for his position, O'Hare pointed to the success of similar laws in Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Maplewood and the City of St. Louis, all which allow residents to raise chickens with some restrictions.

voted last month to allow urban chickens, but according to board of trustees Chairwoman Cathy Forand, no one has applied for a permit.

O'Hare also said he has talked with a veterinarian and real estate experts concerning issues of health, safety and property values.

"I think that there's been a pretty strong case made that it wouldn't be too big of a risk for Shrewsbury to consider," he said.

Alderman Mike Travaglini indicated that the proposal would at least be considered.

"I don't think of any of us are opposed to carrying this forward," he said.

Alderman Ed Kopff has worked closely with O'Hare, who was the individual that originally brought up the matter last year. Kopff said he has been researching Shrewsbury's options and noted that Webster Grove's ordinance was the "most comprehensive one I saw."

Shrewsbury Director of Administration Jonathan Greever said a copy of that law had been emailed to the board members. Among other details, the ordinance prohibits roosters, limits the number of chickens, and mandates that the chickens not be used for slaughter or commercial purposes.