It was a packed house in the hall of the Hillsburgh Community Centre on July 3, as Erin councillors held a public meeting regarding the proposal for an animal bylaw.
As the meeting began, Mayor Lou Maieron asked planner Sally Stull to explain the proposal “in the Queen’s common English, so we can all understand what is being proposed.
“Then we want to hear feedback from the residents,” Maieron said.
Stull said the bylaw presented to council “as a draft” was in regard to the keeping of “animals which could be deemed livestock within the urban areas.”
She said the proposed bylaw lays out a fairly simple three-part approach to prohibition.
“Basically, it largely prohibits exotic animals in all of Erin.”
She noted there is an extensive list of the exotic animals prohibited within the bylaw.
Stull stressed the proposed bylaw does allow reptiles “but only those less than three metres in length.”
That garnered a reaction from those gathered.
“Exotic animals are not regulated by the province and this bylaw largely prohibits the keeping of exotic animals as pets within the Town of Erin.”
She said the part likely of more interest to local residents, was the raising of the old livestock bylaw which limited the number of animal units which could be kept on a given property. She explained that the reference to animal units more relates to the volume of manure created by an animal species.
The 1988 bylaw which was used throughout Erin Township had a limit of 0.5 animal units for every two acres of land.
In short, she said that amounted to one cow or horse for every four acres. However, properties below two acres of land in rural areas did not allow for the keeping of livestock, Stull said.
She clarified that the proposed bylaw resurrects that bylaw, which was rescinded in error.
Stull explained that the third part of the proposed bylaw is in relation to the keeping of livestock within the villages.
“Any zone which does not allow for agricultural uses would not allow livestock to be kept.”
Specifically, the keeping of chickens and pigeons would be prohibited.
Stull stressed that this was the first offering of this bylaw.
Maieron chose that moment to offer what he considered a different way of dealing with the issue.
“It seemed this first incident occurred when there was a delegation come before council.”
One of the concerns was related to the number of outbuildings on the neighbour’s property in the urban area of Hillsburgh.
Maieron asked what would happen if there was simply a limit on the number of outbuildings – based on property size.
Maieron agreed that Erin is a rural community and that he did not want to limit individual property rights.
“But there has to be a balance, so that neighbours can enjoy their properties as well.”
