Coopertown draft proposal would ban livestock, roosters on land zoned for residential use

COOPERTOWN, Tenn. (WKRN) — A draft of a proposed ordinance that would ban livestock and roosters on land that is zoned for residential use, and allow police officers to go on people’s property if they believe they’re breaking the law has some Coopertown residents fired up.

The proposal would also cap the number of chickens allowed on residential property to six, and would require them to be for personal use only.

“My first read through it, I was fired up,” Coopertown resident Robert Watts said. “This whole ordinance to me needs to be ripped up and thrown in the trash.”

Coopertown Mayor Becca Werner told News 2 the draft proposal stems from a neighbor who started running a livestock rescue out of their home. According to Werner, the resident has more than 100 chickens, 12 to 14 goats, and other animals roaming free inside and outside of their home, which has caused damage to neighboring properties and become a nuisance.

“Coopertown is a farming and agricultural community and we respect our farmers tremendously. We want all of our citizens to enjoy their property,” Werner wrote in an email. “The question is what happens when someone moves into a residential area and decides to have livestock and then the livestock are not properly cared for or become a nuisance to the neighbor.”

“Obviously if you live next to land zoned as agriculture, you should expect livestock, tractors working in the fields, and everything else that comes with living next to a farm, but if you live on land designated as residential, should you expect that as well?” she continued.

However, some neighbors believe the proposal violates their right to farm in a city deeply rooted in agriculture.

“You’ve got people coming from big cities moving to the country, but yet they don’t like the country life,” Watts said. “If you don’t like the sounds and smells of country, don’t move here.”

In addition, the draft of the proposal would require hens for personal use only to be kept in a hen house with materials that are “uniform,” including walls made of the same material, any windows or openings made of the same material, and the roof made with the same shingles or other covering.

“[It’s] like they want to decorate it,” Coopertown resident Richard Lee said. “That don’t make sense to me. I mean, if you control an animal, he’s controlled if he’s got chicken wire and a building. It don’t have to be the Taj Mahal.”

What’s worse, according to residents, is the clause that would allow any peace officer or building commissioner authority to enter someone’s property if they believe they could be in violation of the ordinance.

“That’s giving them the right to prowl wherever they want to prowl,” Lee said. “I don’t really like that.”

Some neighbors believe a few tweaks and adding more details to the draft could lead to a good compromise between residents and the city, protecting people’s right to farm while also ensuring neighbors without animals can enjoy their property.

Resident Johanna Keohane suggested an adjustment to the draft to allow livestock on residential lots of a certain acreage.

“You can’t just say blanket no animals. Just because a property is seven acres and zoned residential, or seven acres and zoned agricultural, if they have the space for an animal then maybe they should be able to have it,” she said.

Others want certain restrictions included in the draft eliminated, including the proposed ban of slaughtering chickens on land zoned for residential use.

“I think that we should let people be able to keep living the way they have been living and not punish the people of Coopertown because of some bad actors,” Meghan Keohane said. “I know there’s some workshops coming up, and I feel like that’s where the town will do their hard work to make it a much better proposal.”

However, others said if the proposal is passed, it would push them out.

“I’d straight put a ‘For Sale’ sign on my property that I bought when I was 14,” Watts said. “I would move to a different county or possibly a different state even.”

If passed, the ordinance would include a fine of $50 per day for any violation.

Coopertown will hold a public workshop on the draft proposal at 6 p.m. Monday, March 25 at 3752 Old Coopertown Rd.

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