BRONSON, MI (WTVB) – The Bronson City Council voted unanimously during its meeting Monday afternoon to take no further action on a proposed ordinance that would have allowed urban chickens to be kept within the city limits.
The move follows the recommendation of the Bronson Planning Commission at its June 21st meeting to not move forward with the ordinance. The Planning Commission did recommend another opportunity for public comment before a final vote was taken, which Gary Crandall took advantage of:
The lack of affordable enforecement options was cited by both the Planning Commission and City Manager Brandon Mersman as obstacles to passing the ordinance.
Mersman said before the June 12th City Council meeting that the Planning Commission approved sending an ordinance to City Council based off the Portage City Ordinance, with the condition that a third party be found to handle enforcement.
He says the city reached out to several companies, including the City’s rental inspection vendor, SAFEBuilt, but SAFEBuilt indicated they would not be willing to take it on without contracting to do all the City’s code enforcement duties. According to Mersman, it would be a substantial cost to the city annually.
The urban chicken issue has been before the Council and Planning Commission since January 2023.
(With additional reporting from Jim Measel)
MORE BACKGROUND:
- 1/11/2023: Bronson City Council discusses urban chickens, decides to send matter to city’s Planning Commission
- 2/20/2023: Bronson Planning Commission schedules special meeting on urban chickens
- 6/10/2023: Bronson City Council to discuss urban chicken ordinance
- 6/13/2023: Bronson urban chicken ordinance tabled, search for third party to continue
- 7/8/2023: Proposed Bronson urban chicken ordinance still being discussed
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