I was soon overcome with the realization that I would have to join forces with whomever it was and help them on their way! WAIT! WHOMEVER YOU ARE!!! THERE IS SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY!!! I recalled back to all the other towns I've watched. I've waited, and seen some succeed and some fail... In all the ones that failed, the advocate may have pushed too hard.
I kept in contact with the Village Assistant Administrator Michael Flynn, and he told me what date and time the next village meeting was, and advice:
"
Send the Mayor and Board a letter supporting the allowance of chickens on residential property, explaining why you feel this is a good idea and would not be disruptive to the neighborhood. Also include any specific comments to the proposed regulations. This will give them advance notice that there is support for this idea. Then come to the meeting on Monday, June 11th and comment in person. It is always more effective if the Board sees and hears a well-spoken advocate explain their position. "
I Posted in Backyard Chicken facebook pages, and an online community at backyardchickens.com in addition to making a public facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/168383973292571/
I Posted in Backyard Chicken facebook pages, and an online community at backyardchickens.com in addition to making a public facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/168383973292571/
I typed up a little ditty and had my friend Tony revise it with me, so it could clearly state a THANK YOU to the village for considering it, and why the village should allow it, pros, cons, etc. I even worked a little with the sustainable city planning consultant the village hired. To my surprise, she already had proposed wording for backyard chickens and beehives in my village. ....TOOOOOOO FREAKIN COOL.
A few of my friend showed up with me that night wearing our chicken campaign sticker, and I went up to the mic trembling:
Here's the wording I used in my letter which I gave a copy to all Village board members present:
(btw the lady in the background was possibly my fave)
Monday, June 11, 2012
To my village representatives:
Hi, my name is Holly Kim. I'm the Marketing Manager at the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare, and a mom of three. I’m here to encourage you for considering Backyard Chickens.
Since I've moved to Mundelein, several friends have also moved here. We love it… it's quiet, and safe. There are outstanding bakeries, delicious restaurants, award winning pizza, and a buzzing farmer's market that started last spring (btw Aurelia Spicuzza deserves kudos for her excellent job of rounding up volunteers). We’ve also noticed a brewery opened up here, and they just held a beer tasting last weekend. Yes, Vernon hills may have a bunch of malls and chain restaurants, but we notice and prefer the authenticity and care of ma and pa stores. As the downtown is being built, Mundelein can be known as a nexus of independent bakeries and restaurants. What a draw to join the community in Mundelein!
Well, anyway…You're at a convergence of time where you're about to make zoning changes that will affect the future of people living in, and moving to Mundelein. Back Yard Chicken enthusiasts and their supporters are a group of people, including families who are intelligent, eco conscious, financially responsible, have pride in home ownership, and love for community and neighbors. Just within the last year, my friends and I have thrown a chili cook-off where a portion of proceeds go to scholarships for the area high school seniors. We’ve held a bicycle safety day free to the community through the volunteer group, the Jaycees. We’ve even helped out at the Loch Lomond fishing derby. You’ve seen our faces. We love giving back to the community. So, as you know, we are definitely not the Beverly Hillbillies!
Allowing backyard chickens will build a good resident community in Mundelein of responsible and educated adults who raise responsible and educated children that love their neighbors as themselves. Knowing that, who wouldn’t want to live here?
I know you're worried about people being irresponsible. People are always going to be people, but that's why BYCers also consider ordinances. Nuisance animal ordinances already cover smell, unsightliness, and noise. Here are some common concerns:• What about roosters? – in Backyard Chickens, there are NO ROOSTERS ALLOWED!!
• What if someone has 50 chickens in their backyard? Well, BYC has to come with policies such as maximum of 4 or 6 (as Evanston has decided).
• What if people have smelly or loud chickens? Then have a ticket written up!
I also do not want to live by something that smells horrible, or is crazy loud. Responsible pet owners are responsible. That’s why we have ordinances!! I will freely say BYC aren’t for everyone nor should it be. Pet potbellied pigs ARE allowed in Mundelein, but truly how many families have them? Not everyone wants a pet pig, and along those lines, not everyone will want to raise chickens.
The Botanic gardens recently had a “Chickens in the Garden” session, and it was completely sold out. Month of May, Williams Sonoma started an agrarian section to their website selling coops, and even Walmart started selling coops! It makes sense as a win-win-win. We reduce food scraps going to landfills, the chickens give us rich delicious eggs with beautiful orange yolks that my kids love, and the poop is high in nitrogen for composting to use in the garden.
Your consultant Arista Strungys has created proposed regulations as part of the new zoning for Mundelein, which would allow backyard chickens, and the company you hired for city planning CAMIROS comes with a background in knowledge and research in long term eco conscious efforts, and sustainable practices. They are the experts, and know this is more than just people who want a fancy pet. The movement transcends political parties, ethnic backgrounds, and ages. In the past, self-sufficiency was encouraged by our government. It was even our civic duty to have chickens to be considerate of our resources, and waste.
In conclusion, this is something that can be well regulated. There are existing nuisance animal ordinances that already cover smell, unsightliness, and noise. This is a part of a growing movement of long term sustainability and stewardship, and will draw a growing number of really good people, and families who are looking for a community like this to move into. You’re doing the right thing by considering it.
For all the reasons above, my friends and I who are local residents would be in favor of this, and ask you to please pass the proposal for backyard chickens in Mundelein.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Holly Kim
Certificates and Credibility:
In the process of receiving a Conseration@home certificate
Member of MidfEx (Midwest fruit explorers)
Horticulture lab assistant in high school
Northbrook Garden club scholarship recipient
Studied Permaculture and self-sufficiency
Edible Landscape Blogger
Urban Homesteading Blogger
Runs two facebook pages: Edible Landscaping Chicago and Urban Homesteading Chicago
Kids are in 4-H
Volunteer and board member for the Jaycees for the last 5 years
Volunteer in community for Mundelein and Loch Lomond
Local densely populated Illinois towns/villages/cities that do allow backyard chickens:
Chicago
Oak Park
Evanston
Naperville Saint Charles
Warrenville
Downer's Grove
West Dundee
List of Major US Cities and local states that allow urban hens:
To my surprise, the board seemed receptive, and I was told later that backyard chickens was something they had been kicking around, themselves. This was a plot twist I never expected...
It was all positive vibes, and I will be planning our next steps to getting Backyard Chickens passed in Mundelein.
Vive la Revolucion!
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