On Tuesday July 16, 2024 your Edgewood City Council will be discussing EMC 18.100.030 Animals.
Tuesday's meeting is a Study Session, which means there will not be a public comment period. That being said we realize this is an important topic for many of our citizens so we encourage you, if you want to share your thoughts or concerns please email them to the City Clerk jill@cityofedgewood.org to be distributed to the Councilmembers for review and consideration prior to the meeting.
Backstory:
On April 9, 2024, the City Council heard several public comments about keeping large animals on residential properties. People were worried about changes to the land use code made in June 2020, which limited their ability to have large animals. These changes were part of Ordinance 20-0579, which updated the City’s land use table.
After talking with the City's consultant, AHBL, there was a focus on removing any use of slaughterhouses from the land use table. This led to discussions about family farms and limits on large animals. Here are some notes from the SEPA Environmental Checklist that was prepared for Ordinance 20-0579.
- ...Animal Production... uses are permitted in the SF-2 and 3 zoning districts and allowed in the SF-5 zoning district with an Administrative Use Permit (see note below)
- ...Animal Slaughtering, Kennels... are no longer permitted in Single-Family zoning districts
- ...Animal Production... uses are allowed in the I zoning district with a Conditional Use Permit
- ...Animal Production... uses are allowed in the P zoning district with a Conditional Use Permit
- Family Farms or “Hobby Farms” are no longer permitted in the Mixed Residential zoning district
- Family Farm or “Hobby Farm,”... uses are permitted in the P zoning district
The current Land Use Table (EMC 18.70.050) mostly matches the points mentioned above. However, "Animal Production" needs a Conditional Use Permit in the SF-3 zone and isn't allowed in the SF-5 zone. According to EMC 18.20.090, a "Family Farm" is a farm of 10 acres or less where people grow crops and raise animals for commercial purposes. This doesn't include processing crops or slaughtering animals raised off-site or boarding more than six animals commercially.
A Family Farm, as defined above, is allowed in certain zones according to the Land Use Table. However, EMC 18.100.030(B) says, "No other animals are allowed in residential districts other than pets," which conflicts with the Family Farm rules. Since both rules were adopted under the same ordinance, the staff thinks the intent was to allow Family Farms based on the Land Use Table, not EMC 18.100.030.
Tuesday's discussion aims to clarify the City Council's specific concerns, which will need further research by staff as time and resources permit. Because EMC 18.100.030 is a development regulation, any changes will need to be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission. The proposed timeline is optimistic, as more time for research and coordination may be needed due to limited staff resources.
Tentative Timeline:
09/09/2024 Planning Commission (PC)
09/20/2024 Notice to Dept. of Commerce
10/14/2024 PC Public Hearing (PH)
11/05/2024 SS
11/12/2024 RCM PH
11/19/2024 SS
11/26/2024 RCM