Most Charlottesville residents must drive several miles to the more rural corners of Albemarle County in search of farm-fresh eggs. For a few downtown Charlottesville residents, however, fresh eggs may soon be as close as their own backyard.
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Matilda Matheson, 5, right, and Helen Matheson, 8, sit with two of their chickens. The Mathesons haven’t had complaints from their neighbors in the Rugby Road area. “Of course, handing out eggs helps,” says Susie Matheson. |
On February 17, the city’s Board of Architectural Review will be considering the aesthetics of a chicken coop in the North First Street backyard of Lisa and Jason Colton, amid concerns from the president of the local neighborhood association over whether there is room Downtown to accommodate chicken coops.
“This project is a collaborative effort among neighbors,” Lisa Colton says. “We’re four families living very close to one another on First and Second Street who share a lot in terms of our community and raising our children.” All four families have young children and are hoping to use the coop and its five to eight chickens as a way to teach their children more about the origins of their food.
Elvira Hoskins, whose family is collaborating with the Coltons, says that beyond the educational aspect, “we’re trying to eat more locally, and you can’t get more local than your backyard.”
Though most of the families involved have little experience with farm animals, there is someone qualified to oversee each step of the project. “Our group is a fortuitous and amazing collection of people,” says Colton, including an architect, a veterinarian and a couple who have previously owned a coop.
The families involved in the project were partially inspired by chicken-raising Charlottesville residents such as Susie Matheson, who lives in the Rugby Road area. Matheson’s coop was featured in the winter issue of Edible Blue Ridge.
“Seeing the impact of the experience on [Matheson’s] children is pretty powerful,” Colton says.
In the several years that she’s had her chickens, Matheson has never heard a complaint from her neighbors. “I have great neighbors,” she says. “Of course, handing out eggs helps.”
Thus far, Colton has heard no complaints either. In fact, a few people have expressed excitement at the prospect of visiting the chickens.
Colette Hall, president of the North Downtown Residents Association, however, has some reservations.
“There’s no city ordinance preventing it,” she says, “but if they build it and the neighbors don’t want it because of the smell and the noise, I will definitely hear about it.” Though city ordinances don’t prohibit chickens, they do ban roosters as well as free-roaming fowl.
Chickens are permitted within the confines of a private yard, but Hall is doubtful that there would be ample space for the coop.
“I can’t imagine where they can build it that isn’t going to be seen and heard by neighbors on Second Street,” she says.
Due to the shape of her lot, however, Colton says the coop will be virtually invisible to neighbors. “It’s a pretty buffered space, intentionally,” she explains. “Neighbors won’t really see it or hear it.”
Mary Joy Scala, city preservation and design planner, says she thinks some misinformation is circulating about the plans, citing a letter from a nearby property owner who was surprised that chickens are permitted in the city.
“Now that local food is such a priority, I would think people would be more accepting of having chickens in the yard,” she says.
Scala said the BAR will simply be reviewing the design for the coop.
“Obviously, they don’t want it to be unsightly, but if it looks fine, they should approve it,” she says. “I don’t think there are any problems from what I’ve seen.”
Meanwhile, the children, who are naturally oblivious to all neighborly concerns and city meetings, are excited to welcome their new feathered friends.
“My kids want to keep them in our house,” Hoskins joked. “They want to sleep with them.”
UPDATED 02/18/09: The BAR unanimously approved the chicken coop design at its February 17 meeting.
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