Council Planning and Public Works Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Planning and Public Works Committee met on June 19, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., with Bill Farmer presiding. The committee addressed three agenda items during the meeting, including consideration of an Animal Ordinance, which was deferred for further discussion. Two informational presentations were provided: a Design Excellence Update and a report on Items Referred to Committee. The committee took one motion and vote during the session and heard five public comments from members of the public.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on June 18, 2012:

• Bill Farmer
• Chuck Ellinger
• Linda Gorton
• Steve Kay
• Chris Ford
• Tom Blues
• Diane Lawless
• Julian Beard
• Doug Martin
• Peggy Henson

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Motion to Keep Animal Ordinance in Committee

A motion was made to keep the animal ordinance in committee for further cultivation 1:36:14. The motion was made by Julian Beard and seconded by Diane Lawless.

The motion was decided by voice vote and was postponed.

The following members voted in favor of the motion: - Bill Farmer - Chuck Ellinger - Linda Gorton - Steve Kay - Chris Ford - Tom Blues - Diane Lawless - Julian Beard - Doug Martin - Peggy Henson

The following members voted against the motion: - Doug Martin - Chuck Ellinger

Public Comment

Five speakers addressed the council regarding a proposed goat and pig ordinance.

Opposition

Juanita Gallivan spoke against the ordinance at 1:22:10, raising concerns about health risks, waste disposal, and property values. She questioned the lack of regulations governing humane husbandry, waste management, and animal control. Gallivan also noted the absence of input from the health department and highlighted potential environmental contamination risks.

Support

Laura Doth-Demartinez spoke in favor at 1:25:51, representing the Bluegrass Goat Justice League. She cited successful goat ordinances in Seattle and Charlottesville that had not resulted in major issues. Doth-Demartinez characterized goats as social, non-predatory pets and noted their benefits for weed control and milk production.

Donna Martinez spoke at 1:30:13, stating her personal support for goats, citing their appeal as cute animals and her enjoyment of fresh goat milk.

Dayan Doth spoke at 1:30:46, sharing personal reasons for wanting goats, including their ability to consume poison ivy and a preference for fresh goat milk over store-bought alternatives.

Jeremy Porter spoke at 1:31:16 from experience with urban chicken keeping. He noted that proper animal husbandry practices reduce neighbor issues and argued that the ordinance's space requirements and noise provisions adequately address concerns about smell, noise, and water quality.

Appointments

The following appointments were made during this meeting:

• Mike Moiser was appointed to the Courthouse Area Design Review Board.

• Ned Crankshaw was appointed to the UK Department of Landscape Architecture.

• John Rohwer was appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission.

Contested Items

Animal Ordinance

A proposal to allow miniature goats and pigs in residential areas generated heated discussion during the meeting. The debate centered on multiple concerns about permitting these animals in neighborhoods.

Council members and public speakers raised several objections to the proposal:

• Property values: Concerns were expressed that allowing livestock in residential areas could negatively impact property values
• Noise and odor: Opponents cited potential noise and odor issues that could affect neighboring properties
• Animal control capacity: Questions were raised about whether animal control services had adequate capacity to manage and regulate these animals
• Regulatory oversight: Multiple speakers expressed concerns about unregulated animal keeping and the lack of sufficient controls

The fundamental disagreement reflected a tension between individual property rights and the broader interests of neighborhood harmony and community standards. Those opposing the ordinance argued that the potential negative impacts on the residential character and quality of life in neighborhoods outweighed the benefits of allowing residents to keep miniature livestock.

The proposal generated significant opposition from multiple council members and members of the public, indicating a lack of consensus on moving forward with the ordinance as presented.

Animal Ordinance

The committee discussed a proposed amendment to Section 4-11 of the Code of Ordinances to permit residents to keep pygmy, dwarf, or miniature goats and pot-bellied or miniature pigs under specific conditions 9:54.

Proposed Requirements

The ordinance would establish size limits for the animals and require specific shelter and space requirements. The amendment also included provisions to prohibit excessive noise and unsanitary conditions, along with increased fines for violations.

Key Concerns Raised

Committee members expressed several concerns during the discussion:

• Noise impacts on neighboring properties
• Property values and potential effects on the community
• Animal abandonment risks if residents could no longer care for the animals
• Enforcement capacity and the city's ability to monitor compliance with the new regulations

Committee Members

The discussion involved Julian Beard, Steve Kay, Diane Lawless, Doug Martin, Tom Blues, and Peggy Henson.

Outcome

The committee voted to keep the ordinance in committee for further study rather than move it forward for immediate consideration. The motion passed with two nays, indicating that while a majority supported deferring the matter, some members opposed additional delay.

Design Excellence Update

Councilmember Tom Blues presented an update on the Design Excellence Task Force 1:36:47. The presentation covered recent appointments to the task force, progress on drafting design guidelines for the downtown B2 zones, and plans to engage a consultant for the work ahead.

The task force outlined an ambitious timeline, with goals to develop design guidelines, staff procedures, and zoning amendments by November. This comprehensive approach aims to establish clear standards for design excellence in the specified downtown areas.

Councilmember Doug Martin raised concerns regarding demolition restrictions during the discussion. In response, the task force confirmed that their recommendations would include new rules addressing demolition, indicating that this issue would be formally addressed in the final deliverables.

The item was presented for informational purposes, with no formal action required at this time.

Items Referred to Committee

8:52

The committee reviewed a list of items that had been referred to the committee for consideration. The discussion covered several planning and regulatory matters, including:

• Sign ordinances
• Building permit extensions
• Zoning revisions
• Street tree protection
• Other planning matters

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes. No action was taken on any of the referred items during this meeting.