Benson City Council not changing animal ordinance

Monday noon the City of Benson Planning Commission met and agreed it would recommend that the city not change its animal ordinance to allow for backyard chickens.
At its meeting just over five hours later on early Monday evening, the city council unanimously accepted that recommendation. As a result, Benson’s city code prohibiting chickens in the city remains in effect.
It was pointed out that on the outskirts of the city, where they may be larger lots, and where land still may be in an agricultural zone, that a person could apply for a variance to the ordinance. Getting that variance still requires a public process for the individual who would seek it.
Photo: Most of the nearly 30 people who showed up for a meeting on whether or not to allow chickens in city limits were decidedly against it.