Review of Regulations Regarding Farm Animals/Livestock within the City
The City of Montgomery recently began a process to address a deficiency in its regulations which permitted all types of farm animals, including pigs, horses, cattle, etc. to be kept on properties within the City. Because of the potential problems associated with the keeping of farm animals on subdivision properties in the community, on July 1, 2009, City Council adopted an ordinance that placed an immediate ban on the keeping of these types of animals on properties within the City.
At the same time the City Council began the process to enact this ordinance, it also asked the Planning Commission to study the issue of whether some type of farm animals should be permitted in the City and under what conditions/circumstances. The Planning Commission has completed their study of the issue regulating exotic animals and finalized their recommendation on August 3, 2009.
City Council will be holding a public hearing on September 23, 2009 at 6:00 P.M. at City Hall, 10101 Montgomery Road. In addition to the public hearing, any process to modify city regulations would also include three City Council work sessions and three legislative business sessions at which time the legislation will be discussed and, ultimately, action taken by City Council. Public comment will be taken by City Council during the public hearing as well as throughout the ordinance reading process.
The City of Montgomery process is designed to allow for adequate time to evaluate the needs and interests of the community as a whole and to allow multiple opportunities for community comment and feedback to be heard and considered before any decisions are made. Any action to modify the City’s regulations regarding livestock would be handled through the passage of legislation by City Council. Ordinances require three successive readings at business sessions of City Council before passage. Business sessions of City Council are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. An ordinance becomes law 30 days after passage.