*PLEASE- ONLY PULASKI COUNTY, VA RESIDENTS TO SIGN*

We are a group of local residents in Fairlawn,Va seeking a few simple amendments to the current zoning ordinances to include medium and high-density residential zones to be allowed residential poultry keeping rights. In addition to this, updating acreage brackets and allowed numbers of birds per lot so that the minimum lot size for these two zones is included.

Many residents are UNAWARE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS 0.5 acre (as per Pulaski County's Unified Development Ordinance) for keeping poultry! Most surrounding municipalities have lots averaging 0.2 acre as the minimum! We just want similar rights that most other fellow American have! Poultry keeping benefits and enriches local citizens lives on many different levels and is a needed change in our community! THIS AFFECTS OUR ENTIRE COUNTY!!!

The changes we are looking to make:

• Reduce the minimum lot size from 0.5 acre to 0.2 acre.
• Allow residential poultry keeping in medium and high-density residential zones.
• Update bird per land ratio ranges - 6 birds per 0.2-0.5 acre, 12 birds per 0.5-1.0 acre, 20 birds per 1.0-2.0 acres, 30 birds on properties larger than 2.0 acres.
• Update language from chicken to poultry
• Update list of definitions and interpretations to define residential poultry keeping to include chickens, ducks, quail, guineas, turkey, and geese.

We feel that the residents are responsible enough for this kind of animal keeping and believe that the Pulaski County Administration would agree that this small change is in keeping with the current spirit of the local community. This change would enrich our communities’ residents’ lives mentally/physically/financially as long as cleanliness/housing/noise regulations are followed to promote neighborly peace. These are already stated in the Pulaski County Virginia Unified Development Ordinance (this includes regulations already written such as no roosters, enclosure size requirements, neighboring property setbacks for the enclosed birds, etc.).

The price increase in the cost of eggs in grocery stores over the past 2 years is making NATIONAL NEWS and is adding to the financial challenge our citizens are facing. This in turn is potentially affecting health and quality of life for our residents. Especially with current high poverty rates and a probable recession on its way, it is VITAL that our citizens have access to healthy and cost-effective food!!

Urban poultry keeping has become very trendy in growing municipalities all over the country and as our county is heavily oriented around agriculture, it seems like the perfect dynamic to please new and old residents alike with these changes. We are seeking the county’s official’s attention and help in making this possible for their citizens. We have no interest in anything agriculturally large scale, we just want to be allowed to continue keeping a small number of poultry for pets or personal use in the future.

We NEED to let our people have the RIGHT to care for their families by allowing small backyard poultry keeping rights. Our community is BASED around agriculture, it is important to keep these practices alive to pass on to our children and future!

Pulaski IS farming and WE ARE its citizens!

Below is a link to the current zoning ordinances in Pulaski County Virginia:

https://www.pulaskicounty.org/documents/planning-zoning/ordinances/udo-2022.pdf

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