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Cornwall Borough Council on Monday agreed to amend its ordinance to allow 15 chickens per lot in residential zoning.
With the new ordinance change, up to 15 chickens are allowed per residential lot, with coops not to exceed 10 feet by 10 feet and meeting setback requirements.
Free-range chickens will not be permitted, and roosters will be permitted.
All were in favor except councilman Thomas Burton, who said that he has 25 chickens. However, he was told existing chicken coops would be grandfathered in.
While solicitor Josele Cleary referenced an ordinance suggesting that animal husbandry was not permitted at all, township manager Cody Rhoads said another part of the ordinance said that chickens are allowed.
The change to the ordinance is meant to rectify that inconsistency and set a hard limit to the amount of chickens Cornwall residents can keep.
At Monday’s meeting, the council also discussed renovations needed for the exterior of the police station, including outdated windows and paint peeling.
The council received an estimate for $13,725 from Fairview Building, which, because is is above $12,500, the council would need to receive at least two other quotes to have the work performed.
Ray Fratini of the planning commission offered to perform the work for free as long as he can borrow municipal employees to assist with the task. His offer was accepted by council.
Council president Bruce Harris thanked Fratini for his work upgrading the meeting room, as well as his volunteering to work on the police station.
The council also discussed the possibility of formalizing the process for reporting and looking into zoning violations.
Cleary advised against doing so in ordinance form as she said this would put unnecessary liability on the borough if a zoning violation was investigated outside of the time frame or process lined out in the ordinance. She advised laying out such instructions in a policy instead.
Ultimately, any action was tabled for future discussion.
In other news, the council:
- Announced that a single-page conceptual plan from Byler Holdings is under review for potential rezoning and should be discussed at an upcoming Planning Commission meeting.
- Considered authorizing RFP to update zoning ordinances, but opted to wait until next year as the expense was not budgeted and North Lebanon and North Cornwall boroughs claim a conflict of interest as RFP is the firm developing the new regional comprehensive plan.
- Unanimously agreed to adopt Resolution 2023-6 applying for a state Department of Community and Economic Development grant for Snitz Creek Park phase one improvements, which, if obtained, would be usable as matching funds for a DCNR grant.
Read more: Cornwall Borough Council hears completed parks and recreation plan
- Unanimously agreed to authorize the engineer to investigate an issue with the piipe at the intersection of Water Street and Rexmont Road.
- Unanimously authorized a General Codes update.
- Unanimously agreed to authorize Council Pro Tem Ron Ricard as the voting delegate for the upcoming PSAB Conference, as well as authorize Burton as the alternate.
- Unanimously approved an emergency sewer repair at Silver Road for $3,150.
- Heard and approved reports including the treasurer’s and secretary’s.
- Unanimously approved the minutes of their April 10 meeting (PDF).
Cornwall Borough Council meets the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.
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