Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Dear Neighbors,
As readers of our AHCA Yahoo list are aware, in the spring, we had a few residents ask for more information about the proposal to allow hens to be housed on residential property in Arlington. At that time, AHCA invited representatives from two organizations with opposing viewpoints on the issue to present at our next AHCA meeting.
During the same period of time, at the May meeting of Arlington County Civic Federation (ACCF), a resolution "Regarding Proposed Changes to the County Ordinances Affecting Agriculture" by Jim Pebley of Waycroft-Woodlawn Civic Association was referred to ACCF Planning and Zoning Committee. At ACCF's June, the Planning and Zoning Committee recommended "deferral of action on the Backyard Hen resolution or, any revision thereof, to no earlier than the October 2012 ACCF meeting." AHCA is a member of ACCF, and as such has the right to vote on resolutions before that body.
At present, ACCF's vote on the resolution may occur as early as its meeting on October 2, . If AHCA's membership would like to have its vote recorded on this resolution and reported to ACCF, then AHCA must vote on the topic prior to ACCF's October meeting.
Therefore, AHCA holds a Special Meeting on Tuesday, September 25, at 7:00 PM at Patrick Henry Elementary School Library. The sole topic is the housing of hens in Arlington County with a discussion of the proposal before ACCF. During the special meeting, representatives from the two organizations with opposing viewpoints on the issue present information, followed by a Q & A period and discussion by the membership, and then a member vote is taken if a motion is made. AHCA's membership may vote to support the resolution, may vote against the resolution, or may decide to abstain from ACCF's vote entirely. We can also propose a resolution of of our own. Whatever the decision may be, it comes from the AHCA members.
My understanding is when ACCF's vote does occur, the result is shared with the Arlington County Government. At this time, I do not know the manner in which the results will be shared.
For your review, the language of the proposed resolution is below:
WHEREAS Arlington County has formed a task force on urban agriculture that may likely include findings and recommendations regarding agriculture, including the raising livestock and poultry in Arlington; and
WHEREAS there may be benefits to increased urban agriculture in Arlington; and
WHEREAS, the current zoning ordinance for R5, R6, R8, R10, and R20 zoned properties requires, for example, that the raising, housing, or sale of livestock and poultry must be maintained at a distance of no less than 100 feet from any street or lot line; and
WHEREAS a substantial effort is underway by members of the Arlington Egg Project advocating relaxation of such poultry provisions of the code to permit "backyard hens" for the purposes of locally producing chicken eggs; and
WHEREAS relaxation of such restrictions on poultry may result in impacts on neighboring properties, may pollute rainwater runoff, attract rodents, spread odors and, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, may introduce salmonella; and
WHEREAS similar concerns are likely to exist for relaxation of other regulations affecting agriculture in Arlington; and
WHEREAS the task force was not charged with reaching a consensus outcome, and instead will take votes that may fail to represent the views held by the majority of Arlingtonians; and
WHEREAS there is no assurance that the concerns of neighbors will be raised by the task force, much less incorporated into their recommendations; and
WHEREAS the County Board did not appoint a Civic Federation representative to the aforementioned task force, therefore representation of the Civic Federation's position on the relaxation of residential zoning ordinances should be expeditiously adopted to advise the County Board and the task force;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Arlington County Civic Federation is opposed to relaxing the current restrictions in the Arlington County ordinances that relate to agriculture activities in Arlington, including the raising, housing, or sale of livestock or poultry, without a more expansive and inclusive public process.