Hens in Danville? The Town Planning Commission conducted a public hearing earlier this month to update Danville’s single family residential ordinance, including allowing up to six hens on 15,000-square-foot properties.
The commissioners are in the process of updating the requirements for building a single-family home or make additions to an existing one in Danville.
“It’s outdated,” said Catarina Kidd, project planner of the Town Planning Division. “We received feedback from the community. It isn’t clear.”
Commissioners discussed new requirements for a home’s design review for additions and extensive remodeling in established single-family residential neighborhoods.
The commissioners also plan to clarify how builders could add portable storage sheds and pool houses, fences and retaining walls, and on-site parking and garages.
In addition, the update would allow a limited number of hens at single-family homes on 15,000-square-foot lots. Previously, property owners could only have hens on larger lots. Now, they can have up to six hens, no roosters and the hens must be in coops.
The updated ordinance would make it easier to add second units in accordance with the state’s second dwelling requirements. It would allow the Danville Planning Division to approve units that have 750 square feet or less of living space with heating and air conditioning, which would help provide affordable housing.
In addition, the updates include new language saying that fences and retaining walls do not qualify as accessory structures.
The old ordinance for single-family residences originated before the town was incorporated in 1982 and the county supervised Danville, Kidd said. Since then, the town has adopted the county code pertaining to building or making additions to single-family homes.
The new changes in the ordinance will go through a second hearing by the Planning Commission at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 24. When their changes are finalized, the proposed updated ordinance will go to the Town Council for adoption.
For more information about the changes in the single-family ordinance, visit the town’s Web site: www.ci.danville.ca.us/default.asp?serviceID1=419&Frame=L1.
