Westfield resident Kaitlin Grenon speaks in favor of ordinance to allow backyard chickens by right at May 1 City Council meeting. (WESTFIELD COMMUNITY TV)The Westfield News
WESTFIELD — A proposed ordinance in Westfield to allow the keeping of chickens by right in single- and two-family residential lots received a public hearing at the May 1 City Council and May 6 Planning Board hearings.
While the majority of residents spoke in favor of the ordinance and the Planning Board voted unanimously in support, several councilors expressed concerns. The public hearing at the City Council was continued to May 15.
At the council meeting, Councilor Nicholas Morganelli introduced the ordinance change. “We have a proposed zoning amendment to allow backyard chickens by right,” he said, and reviewed the substance of the proposed ordinance, which allows six hens and no roosters in lots of at least 5,000 square feet, and 12 hens and no roosters in lots of at least 20,000 square feet.
The ordinance also requires that the owner register with the city’s animal control officer, who must be allowed access to the property for inspection. A suitable coop must be provided, with it and any run areas located at least 30 feet from any neighborhood residence and 10 feet from any lot line, and be kept in a back or side yard.
Morganelli said on-site slaughtering is prohibited outside of the rural residential district, and any quantity of birds in excess or on a smaller lot will require a special permit.
Opening the hearing up to councilors for questions, Councilor Kristen Mello asked what in the ordinance was set up for handling waste, manure plus bedding. She said generally animal refuse is disposed of in trash bins. “Are we going to be charging for that bulk waste, or are they going to compost it? If composting, is tenth of an acre enough room,” she asked.
Morganelli said chicken manure is good for composting. He said anybody that has a dog creates a lot more waste than the chickens would produce. “People who usually have chickens compost or dispose of it properly,” he said, adding that the animal control officer would have jurisdiction over it. “It has to have proper stormwater and not smell. As far as what they choose to do with their poop, it’s not something we as a council need to regulate.”
Councilor Ralph Figy, another proponent of the ordinance change, said chicken manure has the highest level of nitrogen of any feces, and if used properly will definitely improve home gardens.
Councilor Michael Burns asked, since it is by right, would the animal control officer be in charge of inspections, and whether the Board of Health would be involved.
Burns said the city clerk regulates dogs and cats, but the ordinance calls for allowing six to 12 chickens. “How are we going to regulate that?” he said. “I have problems with this, I really do. I think it can be worked in another way. I don’t think any city around here has by-right chickens.”
Karen Fanion, chair of the Zoning, Planning and Development Committee, said in her initial meeting on the proposal, they did talk about enforcement and inspections, which will have to be in another ordinance. “That will be a general ordinance, not a zoning ordinance,” Fanion said, adding the one before them came out of her committee with a two to one vote. “I was the negative vote. I have concerns about it being allowed in all residential neighborhoods,” she said, adding that it could become problematic in densely populated districts.
Fanion said when she first became Ward 1 councilor, her first call was about 16 to 24 chickens in a neighboring residence attracting pests, which she said took some time to remove. “I feel this by-right use in all residential districts would be problematic.”
Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane said people keep talking about close quarters downtown. “We can get up and leave and go on a chicken tour —they’re everywhere and people don’t complain about it,” she said, talking about her Ward 3 neighborhood. “If we’re really concerned about that — we could kick it up to 10,000 square feet and anything less by special permit.”
“By having registration, they’re going to have to keep coops clean,” Morganelli said.
The majority of individuals present spoke in favor of backyard chickens at both the City Council and Planning Board hearings.
Ben Mosijchuk said his family had chickens in Westfield for nearly a decade before having to get rid of them. He said taking care of the chickens taught him a lot about responsibility and a good work ethic.
Mosijchuk said over 90 percent of cities and towns in Massachusetts allow the keeping of hens with reasonable restrictions or none at all. “This ordinance keeps things simple and practical and is a balanced solution,” he said, adding that with regulations in place, nearly any objection to noise or odor would be handled.
Mosijchuk said the loudest noise a hen makes is equivalent to human conversation, and hens reduce food waste by consuming kitchen scraps. He urged the City Council to support the ordinance, “not only for those who have had the opportunity, but for the many families that want to do so responsibly.”
“This ordinance is not about chickens taking over Westfield — it’s about giving residents the freedom to responsibly teach children to live more sustainably,” he said.
Kaitlin Grenon, who also spoke at both hearings, said keeping chickens offers practical benefits, educational value in teaching children responsibility, and combats food insecurity, from which “no community is entirely immune.” She said eggs are an affordable source of protein that a small flock of hens can supply.
Grenon said as a homeschool parent, keeping chickens can provide hands-on, meaningful education from which children can learn where food comes from, and the value of care, consistency and stewardship, connection to land and life that no classroom can replicate.
“Backyard chickens are not a nuisance, they are an opportunity — for education, sustainability and community resilience,” she said.
In the City Council meeting, Fanion said she had three letters from residents opposed to the ordinance, which she had shared with the other councilors.
Ralph Figy presented the ordinance to the Planning Board on May 6 and summed up the key points. “I come before you on my second attempt to get the chicken ordinance passed and implemented. I appreciated the time and effort last time, but it timed out, and we didn’t get it done,” he said, referring to his last effort to pass an ordinance in 2023 allowing backyard chickens.
Figy said the new ordinance is simplified, and deals only with chickens. It ensures that the owner has registered the coop with the animal control officer, and will allow an annual inspection, to get the coop and food storage approved.
“The key element in my mind is no roosters. Hens are very quiet, have a very soothing cluck and are good for the environment,” said Figy, who grew up on a poultry farm in Ohio. He said the reason that the number of hens is six allowed for a property of 5000 sq. ft., is that is the smallest number you can buy.
The sole person speaking in opposition at the Planning Board hearing, Jane Ocsin said her concern was the impact on taxes.
“I’m against it. The Environmental Protection Agency says a chicken is a farm animal, not a pet. The CDC recommends that no children under the age of 5 should handle a chicken. I believe we’re trying to do this for a few homeowners that want to save a few dollars on eggs. I don’t see any benefit to all the rest of the neighborhood,” Ocsin said, adding that she believes it would lead to increased expenses, the need for more manpower for the animal control officer, and “will raise our taxes.”
Before voting unanimously to recommend the ordinance to the City Council, Planning Board members had few objections. They briefly discussed whether to prohibit chickens in the core downtown district, but Bernard St. Hilaire said he believed if the property met all of the sideline requirements, it should be treated like all other properties, and no recommended change was made.
Morganelli asked the councilors to keep in mind the time of year. “It is May — hens are laying eggs right now. if we delay things, it’s just going to delay this season. If we move it forward and get this done, people can have hens this year,” he said.
