The city of Coalville places such a high value on the protection and preservation of agricultural land uses that its municipal code’s right-to-farm provisions allow landowners in some residential zones to keep and breed farm animals on their property.Under a city ordinance, the number of livestock, fowl and other animals permitted is based on the size of the property and the type of animal. Household pets are excluded.A request that the City Council review the number of animals allowed in neighborhoods sparked a debate among community members about how many are appropriate in residential areas. The public input received by Coalville in letters, emails and comments at a recent council meeting showed residents are divided on the issue.Supporters of permitting more chickens, cows, sheep and swine on residential property cited among other benefits family food production and opportunities for children to participate in 4-H and other programs that teach them about animal husbandry. The animals fit in with the rural nature of the city, they say.Others who object to an increase said more animals in their neighbors’ yard bring more smells and flies, impact their property values and don’t belong in Coalville’s residential areas.“I spent more than 30 years saving and planning to move away from a farm for most of these reasons,” Zane DeWeese said. “My grandpa was a sheep farmer his whole life, but he never once opened the back door to feed the animals.”Under the city’s Farm Animal Point System that went into effect in 2022, animals can total 50 points per one-half acre of ground used solely for their care and keeping. The portion of the property where a house sits is not included in the acreage calculation.Farm animals are defined as animals other than household pets that may, where permitted, be kept and maintained for commercial production and sale or family food production, education or recreation.The animals and the number of points they’re assigned:Chickens, pigeons, pheasants and other similar birds: 2 points. Rabbits, chinchillas and other similar animals: 5 points. Geese, ducks, peafowl, turkey and other similar birds: 10 points. Sheep, goats, llamas, calves, foals and other similar sized animals: 25 points. Horses, cattle and other similarly sized animals: 40 pointsNo roosters are allowed in the city and the maximum number of swine that can be kept is four. An animal and one offspring are considered to be one animal until six months after the birth of the offspring.Under the right to farm provisions, any structure or corral where livestock is kept must be at least 100 feet from any existing dwelling on a neighboring lot or parcel or 50 feet from side and rear property lines, whichever is greater. The restriction does not include open pasturing on a temporary or seasonal basis.Farm animals are not allowed in the city’s Very High Residential, Community Commercial and High Commercial zones.The 2022 Farm Animal Point System replaced previous regulations that had been in place since 2011. They provide increased opportunities for landowners, particularly in residential areas, to use their property for farm animal use, Community Development Director Don Sargent said in a staff report. The previous rules allowed no more than two typical domesticated farm animals per acre, including horses, sheep and cattle.The City Council put the point system on its Aug. 26 agenda for discussion after resident Kendra Stephens brought up the issue during the comment period at a previous meeting. Stephens and her husband, Dustin, who had goats and chickens on their property, as well as two 4-H lambs temporarily, had received a letter from the city saying they were over the limit on animals.In a June 27 letter to the couple, Coalville city attorney Sheldon Smith said one-third of their half-acre property is where their home and driveway is situated, leaving two-thirds of their lot that can be used for animals.“For example, one goat would use 25 points and four chickens would use 8 points, totaling 33 points, which is the maximum animals that can be on your property,” the letter said. “Obviously, you can determine which animals you want to keep in order to use the 33 points.”Council members decided at the Aug. 26 meeting to not review the system unless an application for a code amendment is submitted by a property owner to the city. The application fee is $1,500 and there are additional fees for public hearing notification.Dustin and Kendra Stephens said there are many benefits to having animals on residential property.“I enjoy being able to drive up the street and see horses and chickens and cows,” Dustin Stephens said. “I enjoy these things. Some of these other people say they enjoy it, but as long as it’s not close to them. How can you say you want to live in a farm town, but you don’t want the town to actually be a farm town?”And Kendra Stephens said a lot of students in the community use the money they earn through the 4-H Junior Livestock Auction to pay for college or to help feed their families.But some of their neighbors said adding more farm animals in their neighborhood would not be a good fit.“We are not against property owners having animals, but there are ordinances in place to ensure that a ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ situation does not exist where it shouldn’t,” Cinda Richards said in an email to the city on behalf of herself and her husband, Michael. “Summit County is full of property where that yard is allowed. It is not here!”Katie and Doug Harmon said the current code based on the point system balances the needs of all residents, “including those who value peace, cleanliness, and a reasonable standard of living.”Elizabeth Cohen, a Utah State University assistant professor for extension for agriculture and natural resources, said it’s more common for residents in the east part of Summit County to have backyard livestock.She said 175 youths participated in the Junior Livestock Show at the Summit County Fair this year and they usually have more than one animal. On the last day of the show, 85 pigs, 16 steers and 69 sheep were sold, and about 75 chickens and five rabbits were entered for judging at the show.If the family doesn’t don’t have room for the animals at their homes, some will lease a space or keep them on a friend’s property, Cohen said. Chickens, goats and sheep are popular choices for backyard animals.Shoat Roath, an agricultural educator and FFA adviser at North Summit High School, said he understands the necessity of regulations to mitigate negative impacts on neighboring properties but the current code presents challenges when more than one youth lives in a single home. More animals are needed for them to participate in 4-H projects and a livestock show and sale during the Summit County Fair, he said.“I witness daily the profound benefits that raising livestock for the fair brings to our youth,” said Roath, who is president of Summit County Jr. Livestock. “It fosters an understanding of food production and the journey from farm to table.”He added that Junior Livestock show animals are typically on properties for only part of the year.Roath, who has farm animals on his Coalville property, said, “At the end of the day, it’s not necessarily about the number of animals per acre. It’s about the management. I think we’ve all got to be good neighbors.”The post Coalville residents split over how many animals should be allowed in backyards appeared first on Park Record.