Atlantic Ave. resident continues to fight chicken ban

Lynn – Armed with a petition signed by roughly 200 people backing his vision of chickens in an urban setting, Atlantic Avenur resident Ryan Ahern has refused to take no for an answer from the City Council.Ahern showed up at an Ordinance Committee meeting Tuesday with about 30 people in tow, all hoping to speak in favor of his garden and free-range chickens. The group was silenced, however, because the meeting was merely a discussion, not a public hearing.In June, city officials removed five chickens from Ahern?s property and told him to clean up his garden that grows basil, cucumbers and various herbs and fruit. They cited him for the way he was composting and his use of concrete blocks and chicken wire.Since then, Ahern said he has conformed to all of the city?s rules and regulations, including the purchase of PVC bins from the city, but still hasn?t given up on his dream of legally owning backyard hens.Frustrated, Ahern Tuesday said he would keep pursuing his idea for a sustainable garden that he believes would benefit the community.?Everyone in my neighborhood is very supportive, and my garden is sort of a meeting place or connection where everybody comes by to get food,” he said. “I like to give food out to people. It?s fun.”After speaking to Ahern and his group, Ward 1 City Councilor Wayne Lozzi said rather than a total prohibition, he would prefer to see those who meet the proper requirements be allowed to keep a chicken or two at their home.?There would have to be stringent regulations with setbacks (and neighborhood setting) to ensure people are properly handling the animals,” he said. “And if that ends up excluding certain property owners, than so be it.”The issue stems from a warning by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the potential for an Avian Flu outbreak and to not issue permits for people housing them in tight quarters.Fully aware of the city?s beef with fowl, horses, pigs, and other farm animals, Ahern has written letters to The Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to gain further information to pass along to the City Council about owning backyard hens.?I even have a booth set up in my yard with information about my idea,” he said. “Some people that I?ve spoken to want to do the same thing (own chickens).”Lozzi said he plans to speak with the Law Department to see if his idea to allow certain people to own chickens is a feasible one.?There has to be a happy medium,” he said. “It?s obviously easier to ban them (animals), and we?re not putting a lot of time into this idea, but the situation really comes down to reasonable regulations.”The topic will be further discussed Sept. 9.