COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Planning Commission gave City Planner Dean Walrack some ideas Monday night on what they would like to see in the final draft of an amendment that would regulate non-household Animals within the City’s residential areas.
Commission members held a nearly 50 minute discussion on a proposal from Walrack which is intended to differentiate Farm Animals from a class of small semi-domestic animals that are not typically kept as pets, called “Garden Animals” in the draft.
It will direct Farm Animals to properties zoned A-A One-Family Agricultural Residential.
Walrack says this proposal does not place any limits on the number of Garden Animals a household may host, nor does it create a time limit during which those animals could exist on a permitted property.
It would create a deadline after which existing non-conforming permissions would expire and require that a new permit be applied for.
Under the current city staff proposal, Farm animals would be defined as any animal customarily found in farming operations such as but not limited to all breeds of horses, cows, goats, pheasants, ducks, geese, sheep, swine or any other type of poultry or fowl. A farm animal shall also include all animals classified as livestock by the State of Michigan.
Monday’s discussion was only the first step of what is expected to be a long process. The Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on a final version at a future meeting at which point public comment will be presented to the Commission and a recommendation may be made to the City Council.
When the Planning Commission’s work is done, the City Council will introduce and consider the first reading on the proposed amendment at a regular meeting and then may schedule a second reading and consider adoption of the proposed amendment at a later meeting.
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