Michigan Woman’s Effort To Keep Farm Animals Draws Support

[Purveyor]

WILLIAMSTOWN TWP. (AP) - A woman’s effort to keep goats, chickens, pot belly pigs and rabbits on her mid-Michigan property is drawing support from online donors.

Jessica Hudson told the Lansing State Journal that donors have pledged $12,000 to support her legal dispute with Ingham County’s Williamstown Township. She said the Right to Farm Act should protect her.

Hudson, her husband, Jeremiah, and her five children, ages 2 to 11, moved from nearby Lansing last year in order to keep farm animals. They said they moved because her children have food allergies and they wanted access to goat milk and affordable eggs.

“I moved out of the city so that I could have a farm but now live in a place that has tighter restrictions,” said Hudson.

The dispute began following a neighbor’s complaint, and the township board voted this month to take legal action to force the removal of the animals from her 1.5-acre Sweet Peas Farm, which is one of six properties in a 70-acre section of the township. The board cited a local ordinance that prohibits farm animals in an area zoned for single-family homes.

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http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/03/20/womans-effort-to-keep-farm-animals-draws-support/

[Eleanors38]

1. People keep chickens within the shadows of high $ Austin condos.

[Quantess]

2. And Portland, and Seattle, and,

even... San Francisco city limits!

[trixie]

3. Zoning not checked?

“I moved out of the city so that I could have a farm but now live in a place that has tighter restrictions,” said Hudson.

Why wouldn't they check out the zoning BEFORE moving?

[etherealtruth]

7. That is the question

What about the people that purchased their houses/ land because the zoning was for specific residential use. An acre- and a half is not all that large.

[haele]

4. San Diego city council just passed an ordenance that you could keep goats -

as well as chickens (only one rooster, though), miniature ponies, and pet pigs so long as they are kept in a humane situation (large enough yard size for free ranging and for goats, that means at least two!) and the neighbors don't complain.

Of course, many of the older neighborhoods still have the double-lots that are large enough for a backyard and a garden plot. If the original owners didn't put apartments on them, that is.

Haele

[MadrasT]

5. Didn't she check the zoning BEFORE she moved?

I hope she gets the variance but zoning is zoning.

If I was buying property with the intention of raising farm animals, I would make damn well sure the zoning permitted it before I signed anything.

Maybe she can succeed in getting the zoning changed.

I live way out in the country in a neighborhood of one acre lots surrounded by farmland. Our township just had a big thing going on over chickens. Our residential zoning allows up to 6 pets. Chickens counted as pets. Some people wanted chickens counted separately. They got the zoning changed so we can have 6 cats and/or dogs AND up to 9 chickens on a acre. (Number of chickens allowed varies by lot size.)

Seems ironic when we are surrounded by farmland to be arguing about how many chickens we can keep in our backyards, but it is what it is. I also want goats... but if I really want goats I know I am going to have to move to a differently zoned area. Or fight to get the zoning changed.

But it doesn't sound like she was paying any attention to existing zoning at all.

[talkingmime]

6. Our township forbids the same thing. It pisses me off. I've got enough room.