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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.A.3. Potbellied Pigs in Residential Zoning Districts L. 4 . 3. Consent Business Si t\Koih i= TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: R. Michael Leek, Community Development Director DATE: 02/17/2015 SUBJECT: Potbellied Pigs in Residential Zoning Districts (B) Action Sought The Council is asked to review the following information regarding the keeping of potbellied pigs in residential zoning districts and then take action on the desired response or provide further direction to staff. Background At the January 20 City Council meeting a prospective resident asked the City Council to consider amending the City Code to allow the keeping of potbellied pigs in residential zoning districts. Currently, Chapter 10 of the City Codes states: Subd. 2. Keeping. It is unlawful for any person to keep any wild animal in any part of the City. It is unlawful for any person to keep any animal which is not approved by the United States Department of Agriculture or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in any part of the City. Farm animals, pot-bellied pigs, and pygmy goats may be kept only in that portion of the City zoned for agricultural purposes or where these animals are a permitted, conditional or accessory use. If the Council wishes to change the City Code and allow the keeping of potbellied pigs, the necessary action would be to adopt an Ordinance amending this section of Chapter 10 by striking "pot-bellied pigs" from the third sentence and adding a fourth sentence that specifically defines any parameters for keeping pigs. Such parameters might include a requirement to hold a permit or license for the pig(s) and/or a limitation on the number of pigs that may be kept at a given property. Staff has done some research to determine if other cities in Minnesota have ordinances that allow the keeping of Potbellied Pigs. The website of the North American Potbellied Pig Association (NAPPA), a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization that was "organized specifically to preserve and protect the potbellied pig breed" lists only one city in Minnesota that allows the keeping of potbellied pigs and that is Zimmerman, Minnesota. However, it appears that the City of St. Paul allows the keeping of pigs (as well as other listed animals) with a permit. Additionally, staffs preliminary research raised some question as to whether there is truly a breed of"micro" "mini" or "tea-cup" potbellied pigs or whether animals identified as such as actually just regular pot-bellied pigs that are fed less to keep them small. It should also be noted that if such animals are allowed in the residential zone it may be a challenge for City staff responding to calls or complaints or performing code enforcement to determine whether a particular pig is a regular pig, a potbellied pig, or a mini pottbellied pirg. Staffs knowledge of various farm and/or companion animals -- whether it be potbellied pigs, pygmy goats or another type of animal -- is admittedly limited. And the City's current regulations for the keeping of animals is quite brief. It is not uncommon for cities to limit the number of dogs that can be kept at a single residential property without having a kennel operator's license, or to require a certain ratio of pasture land per horse kept. Yet Shakopee has not had this level of animal regulation in the past. Therefore, the Council is asked to provide direction regarding how it wishes to proceed on this issue. Options include: 1. Adopt an ordinance amending the City Code specifically to allow potbellied pigs in the residential zones, with or without certain parameters. (Note: If this is the desired response, an Ordinance has been drafted and is attached for Council adoption.) 2. Decline to amend the City Code relative to this issue and leave the regulations as they are currently. 3. Direct staff to undertake a comprehensive review and gather public input regarding the keeping of animals within City limits and return to with a more comprehensive set of recommendations for addressing the broader issue. Recommendation Budget Impact Relationship to Vision Requested Action The Council is asked to take action on the desired response to this resident request or provide further direction to staff. Attachments: Ordinance 903 Allowing Potbellied Pigs ORDINANCE NO.903, FOURTH SERIES AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA AMENDING SHAKOPEE CITY CODE SEC. 10.22.OTHER ANIMALS.SUBD.2. KEEPING.TO ALLOW KEEPING POTBELLIED PIGS IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA,ORDAINS: Whereas,the City Council of the City of Shakopee has received a request to amend the Shakopee City Code to allow the keeping of potbellied pigs as pets in the City's residential zoning districts; and Whereas,The Shakopee City Council has determined that the keeping of potbellied pigs is consistent with the intent of the City's regulations regarding the keeping of domestic animals as pets. Now,therefore be it resolved,that the Shakopee City Code Sec. 10.22. OTHER ANIMALS. Subd. 2. Keeping. Is hereby amended as follows(struckthrough language to be deleted,and underlined language to be added); Subd. 2. Keeping. It is unlawful for any person to keep any wild animal in any part of the City. It is unlawful for any person to keep any animal which is not approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in any part of the City. Farm animals, pot bellied pigs, and pygmy goats may be kept only in that portion of the City zoned for agricultural purposes or where these animals are a permitted, conditional, or accessory use. Potbellied pigs may be kept in residentially zoned areas of the City with license issued by the City of Shakopee, and no more than one potbellied pig may be kept on residentially zoned property. Adopted in regular session of the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota held the day of ,2015. Mayor of the City of Shakopee ATTEST: City Clerk Published in the Shakopee Valley News on the day of , 2015. PREPARED BY: City of Shakopee 129 South Holmes Street Shakopee, MN 55379 H:\CC\2015\Potbellied pigs ordinance 903.docx