Young resident makes a case for raising chickens

The Milford Borough Planning Commission met on Monday and voted to accept an extension on the Luhrs land development application. This was the third extension granted. The planning board will meet in October to vote on a recommendation for the Milford Counsel, which will vote in November. It is understood that the application will be presented to the council next Monday.

An ordinance change regarding chickens was proposed by local Lila Feely, age 9, who made a compelling argument to the Commission about allowing residents to own chickens within Milford Borough. The current ordinance names chickens as a Class 3 conditional animal, otherwise known as livestock, and requires a person to own at least five acres and have their home assessed as a “qualified farm” to raise poultry. One home can have a maximum of four hens, with no roosters and a 25-foot set back. A delicate requirement, as the majority of Milford lots are 55 feet wide.

Mentioned were concerns about odor, housing, and the rise of predators, such as foxes. The benefits listed included additional food sources for families, and pest control for such things as fleas, ticks, and spotted lanternflies. However, research regarding the spotted lantern fly is ongoing, with some anecdotal reports suggesting that if the spotted lantern fly eats too much of its favorite food, tree of heaven, it may taste too bitter even for chickens.

As the birthplace of the conservation movement, an argument was made that it would be within the town’s historical right to ‘allow the fowl’ back into the borough. No agreement was reached on Monday night, but a motion will be made to bring it before the council at a later date.

In other news, Candace Mahala was unanimously voted in as an alternative member to the planning commission.