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By Miriam Raftery
February 19, 2014 (La Mesa) –La Mesa residents may soon be able to raise chickens (though not roosters) in their backyards. On Wednesday, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to allow one chicken for each 2,000 square feet, or three chickens for the average 6,000 square foot residential lot. The proposed new ordinance must next be approved by the City Council, which is expected to hear the measure on March 25.
Patrick Dean, a chief who previously ran for a Council seat, has been a long-time advocate of legalizing chicken ownership. However the plucky chef plans to ask Council to increase the number of chickens that can be raised, noting that chickens are social animals that are best off in larger groups. Birds of a feather, it seems, do long to flock together. Dean also aims to ask that residents who live in a business district be allowed to keep chickens.
While support for chicken ownership has grown in the community and several other local cities including Santee, El Cajon and San Diego have recently changed laws to allow ownership of hens, one resident voiced opposition, raising concerns over flies and odor. The proposed ordinance would require homeowners to keep chicken coops and yards clean, allowing enforcement action if the rule is violated.
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