Cape Girardeau City Council moves forward on allowing chickens on 4-3 vote

Cape Girardeau resident Nelson Sparks will get to keep his "babies," or his flock of chickens, in his backyard -- at least for a few more weeks.

The Cape Girardeau City Council voted 4-3 Monday approving the first reading of an amended city code that would allow residents to raise chickens within city limits.

Before voting on the issue, councilman John Voss suggested an amendment to the already altered code, requiring residents interested in housing chickens on their property to register the location of the animals and who would be responsible for the coop.

The amendment to the proposed ordinance was also approved 4-3 by council members.

"This has been a very thorough discussion," Mayor Harry Rediger said. "The process really worked well going back to our study session, getting the research and getting it delivered."

Also before the vote, council members discussed feedback they'd heard from Cape Girardeau residents on the ordinance change.

"All the feedback that I've had from citizens was that they did not like the idea at all," council member Loretta Schneider said. "There's a lot of places that have plenty of room for chickens, and there are other neighborhoods that really don't."

Council member Meg Davis Proffer, who voted against the ordinance, said many residents in her ward have complained to her about an odor coming from Sparks' property.

"To me, I don't think that everyone is going to run out and buy chickens," said council member Debra Tracy, who voted in favor of the proposed ordinance change. "But I do think there will be a small number of people that would like to do that, and I don't think it merits prohibiting, I guess."

Second and third readings of the ordinance will be presented at upcoming city council meetings.

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