DRRC 10-26-17 Meeting Minutes
1
DRRC Meeting Summary for 10/26/17
Members Present: Kenney, Stowe, Shenk, Ambrogi, Banks, Wagner, & Oates
Members Absent: Thomas, Unger, & Wilmot
Staff Present: M. Tyler Klein, AICP, Planner
Others Present: Eleven (11) members of the public
The meeting called to order at approximately 7PM by Vice Chairman Kevin Kenny.
Item # 1 – Chicken Coops in the RP (Residential Performance) Zoning District. Discussion of a request
from a private citizen to allow backyard chickens (and chicken coops) as an accessory use in the RP
(Residential Performance) Zoning District.
Vice Chairman Kenney made a motion to accept “Option 1” in the staff memo, to dismiss the request for
backyard chickens and chicken coops in the RP zoning district; the motion was seconded by Mr. Dwight
Shenk.
Staff provided a summary of: the request from a private citizen (Mrs. Sherry Riley, 207 Montgomery
Circle, Stephens City), the DRRC discussion at the September 28th meeting, and the three (3) options
outlined in the staff memo available to the DRRC this evening.
• The DRRC does not support the request for a text amendment to the RP (Residential
Performance) Zoning District to allow backyard chickens and chicken coops.
• The DRRC recommends allowing backyard chickens as a by-right accessory use by amending the
definition of agricultural (contained in Article I, §165-101.03, Definitions and word usage).
• The DRRC recommends allowing the use as a conditional use in the RP (Residential Performance)
Zoning District where a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application (& fee) and public hearings
before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors would be required. Supplemental use
regulations would also be included.
Staff noted the DRRC generally did not support the request at their previous meeting. There was no
discussion of the alternative options, nor did the DRRC seek any comments from those members of the
public present at the meeting.
The DRRC voted 5-1 (Wagner opposed) to not support the requested Zoning Ordinance text amendment;
the item failed to make it out of the Committee and thus would not be forwarded to the Planning
Commission for further discussion.
There were no other items discussed.
Mr. Gary Oates noted that the November and December 2017 meetings would be cancelled due to
conflicts with the holidays. Staff concurred, noting the next scheduled meeting would be (tentatively) on
January 25, 2018
The meeting concluded at 7:10 PM.