There were a number of possible options to take at the council meeting after the Harrisonburg Backyard Chicken Project presented its proposal Tuesday evening for allowing city residents to have egg-laying hens in their yards.  One option was to not move forward in exploring the issue at all, another could have been to actually adopt a new ordinance allowing chickens.  Of course, neither of those would have been the most prudent without further exploration.

The council voted unanimously to refer this issue to the Planning Commission for further review.  This will allow a number of things to happen: staff can prepare a presentation for Planning Commission on the related considerations they have in considering chickens being allowed, planning commissioners can make a recommendation to council and explore how such a change would relate to landuse and zoning ordinances, and everyone has the opportunity to find more answers to the questions around the issue.  If council moves to vote on allowing or denying chickens, there will be a full public hearing at a council meeting. 

For me, this is a prudent move to allow staff and planning commissioners to give their input and to continue asking and answering related questions.  I am still undecided about the issue and look forward the results of this referral.  Thanks to everyone for your input – even the person that showed up to the council meeting dressed in a full-body chicken suit!

At Tuesday evening’s meeting, the council unanimously approved designating the “grassy lot across from the Daily News Record” as a park.  This space, which is by the Farmer’s Marker Pavilion and is where Fund Fest and Blacks Run Clean Day happens, has never officially been designated a park area, and thus has been managed as, well, a grassy lot.  

The city council agreed that designating this space as a park will help preserve it as one of the few green spaces downtown.  A tentative site plan, including stage and permanent bathrooms, was also agreed upon in concept, however no city funds were allocated to adding these capital improvements. If and when funds become available, these structures will be added.  Also left open is the name of the park, which we will determine at a later date.

I know green space and recreation areas are important to city residents, and am pleased we were able to take this action to designate a new park in downtown Harrisonburg.  Any suggestions for names?

There’s no better way to get insight into the commitments of your government than looking at the current and proposed budgets. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting (full agenda), there will be a public hearing on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year. Have a look. I encourage everyone to read the City Manager Budget Letter for an overview on how the budget reflects adjustments for the economic conditions.

Some highlights, all quoted from the draft budget: Read Full Post

Updated April 21, 2009   Click Here For Full Information on Mayor’s Sustainability Summit

The Sustainability Summit scheduled for May 30 is gathering support and interested. I am still accepting partner organizations, which can be businesses, organizations, departments, clubs, or groups that agree to be represented at the event and advertise it as they deem appropriate. Email me if you would like to become a partner. Here’s the good company you’ll join: Read Full Post

The issue of allowing residents in Harrisonburg to have chickens in their backyard has been documented on blogs and the newspaper. While I have had few people contact me directly, I am interested in learning more what I can about the issue before it comes before council. Contrary to what has been reported, there will NOT be an agenda item on this topic at Tuesday’s (April 14) council because information wasn’t provided in time by the citizens interested in allowing chickens to be in the backyard.

Feel free to post your thoughts and comments here – thanks!