By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Residents in Bloomington might have a new neighbor, but in the form of chicken’s.
On Monday, Bloomington City council approved a special use permit to Karla Lane to raise 12 chickens at 3402 and 3404 E. Oakland Ave. Special use permits will allow residents to apply for a permit for ownership of a chicken coop inside city limits. Speaking with WJBC’s Scott Miller, Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason said residents will have to apply for a permit to house the coop, but permits are only approved on a case-by-case basis.
“Instead of it being an automatic right of the property owner, they have to apply for a special use permit,” added Gleason. “So we are dealing with it case-by-case.”
Gleason added although original discussions were a bit controversial, the first permit was a no question decision.
“In this case, it came before council last night and it was an easy one,” said Gleason. “It is nearly a 5-acre track on a rural city inside the city limits. The property owners made that request and it was approved unanimously.”
Blake Haas can be reached at Blake.Haas@cumulus.com.
