Chickens
Several Vestavia residents are requesting approval to keep chickens in their backyards.
During a February meeting, the City Council heard several citizen requests for approval to have chickens in their backyards. Mayor Butch Zaragoza said City Clerk Rebecca Leavings has been doing research on this subject of urban chickens in Vestavia Hills.
"Areas do need to be agriculture zoned," Zaragoza said. "Most subdivisions have private residential covenants with restrictions. However, in some cases, residents can request conditional use approval."
Leavings said she has been receiving phone calls with these types of requests for at least two years. She said that the City cannot overwrite the private residential covenants. She is able discuss the issue with residents to see if they can apply for conditional use approval.
Also during the meeting, the council authorized City Manager Jeff Downes to allow the engineering firm Goodwyn Mills and Cawood to begin an analysis of Wald Park as well as the design of a Vestavia Hills Gateway located at the intersection of Interstate 65 and U.S. 31.
"This will allow us to begin design work and hopefully implementation very soon," Downes said. "This is all part of the strategic plan to redevelop the U.S. 31 corridor."
Other council agenda items:
- A resolution appointing election officers for the special municipal election to be held Mar. 11.
- A proclamation declaring Feb. 16-27 as Arbor Week.
- A resolution authorizing an agreement with Nell Schaffer for Massey Road improvement designs.
