The Plymouth Common Council approved a zoning ordinance amendment Monday night.
Plymouth Planning Consultant Ralph Booker presented the amendment to the council for consideration. Prior zoning ordinance amendments limited the keeping of livestock in R-1 Rural Residential zoning districts to just horses. The Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) has been presented with multiple variance applications for the keeping of other animals in such districts with most of those requests being approved.
After reviewing the current ordinance, the Plan Commission held required public hearings on proposed amendments and approached the Council previously with those results.
The zoning ordinances shall be amended to add Agricultural Limited to its list of Permitted Agricultural uses. The use of land for animal production is limited to 4-H projects and home consumption with sales limited to the sale of agricultural commodities grown on the same ranch or farm that provides such sale. Livestock shall be limited to one (1) horse, donkey, mule, cow, dairy stock, goat, hog, sheep, or other similar animal per five (5) acres of lot area. No large livestock or poultry are allowed in a major platted subdivision. Poultry must be kept in a fully enclosed secure pen of more than one hundred twenty – eight (128) square feet that includes an enclosed coop providing a minimum of two (2) square feet and an open run area providing a minimum of eight (8) square feet per bird.
Booker illustrated that many residents in this zone are already using their land as such; permit or not.
The proposal considered, as required, the comprehensive plan, current conditions and the character of current structures and uses in each district, the most desirable use for which the land in each district is adapted, the conservation of property values throughout the jurisdiction, and responsible development and growth.
The Plymouth Common Council approved the ordinance.
