Yet another Schererville resident has been told he cannot raise chickens on his property.
It again came down to a 3-2 party-line vote on Wednesday, with the Schererville Town Council’s Democratic majority voting to deny Justin Mora’s request for a variance to raise eight hens on his property at 636 E. Joliet Street.
Mora told the council he had been raising the hens on his quarter-acre lot since August — and found a sympathetic ear in Councilman Caleb Johnson, R-5th, who was subject to an unfavorable council vote last year and had to remove the animals from his property.
Schererville councilman Caleb Johnson supports overturning a town ordinance that outlaws chickens in the town. – Original Credit: Photo courtesy of Caleb Johnson
Mora’s petition served as an opportunity for Johnson to offer a line of questioning to underscore his belief that maintaining a chicken coop on residential property is not detrimental to neighbors and is a healthy living practice through the organic production of eggs for personal consumption.
Questioning Mora, Johnson revealed that there have been no complaints from neighbors, including at a recent hearing before the Schererville Board of Zoning Appeals, which gave the request for variance a 4-1 unfavorable recommendation. Johnson also established that the hens are quiet and don’t “cock-a-doodle-do” as a rooster would, and that their coop is clean, cared for and has had no escapes.
“Female chickens don’t need a rooster around to lay eggs,” Johnson said. “They are very quiet during their egg-laying times.”
Although it is against town ordinance to raise chickens on residential property anywhere in Schererville, Johnson, had been keeping hens for 14 years until town officials found out and a code enforcement officer ended up at his doorstep in 8200 Block of Durbin Street. At the time, Johson called the move “politically motivated.”
Johnson, who described his hens as “family pets,” said his children played with and helped care for the animals. He removed the hens and they now live on his brother’s property in an unincorporated area near Cedar Lake.
Town Councilman Tom Schmitt, D-4th, said that “hundreds” of residents have informed town officials that they do not want people raising chickens in their neighborhoods.
“We can’t give a variance for one resident and not another,” he said.
As he had done previously, Councilman Kevin Connelley, R-2nd, voted with Johnson to allow a variance to raise chickens in a residential area.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
