The Soldotna City Council this month heard from people calling for a loosening of restrictions on raising chickens on residential properties in the city.
Several people spoke during a public comment period on items not appearing on the agenda during the council’s April 9 meeting. They called for a loosening of code to allow property owners to raise chickens for food, education and “a taste of the homesteading spirit of living in Alaska.” Specifically, they called for an allowance of six chickens on lots more than 10,000 square feet, and 12 chickens on lots more than 20,000 square feet, on all Soldotna’s residential properties.
Kenai’s City Council in 2023 allowed a maximum of 12 chickens to be raised on properties in residential zones that are less than 40,000 square feet and greater than 20,000 square feet.
People said chickens are quieter and less smelly than dogs, also that they’d like to generate eggs without having to buy them. Some people already own chickens “and hope that no one ever complains,” but one speaker said “there are lots of us who like to do it legally.”
Council members, including Jordan Chilson, said they’d be supportive of loosening the restrictions on chicken ownership. City Manager Janette Bower said such a measure was considered by Soldotna’s council before, but ultimately wasn’t passed. She said the council could direct the city’s planning and zoning commission to consider it, and it could then come before the council in around three months.
Chilson said he would be interested in creating a draft ordinance that could be considered by planning and zoning, but no formal action was taken during the meeting.
A full recording of the meeting is available at “City of Soldotna” on YouTube.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
