The Mancos Town Board continued the at-times emotional debate on whether residents can continue to have livestock within city limits.
Currently, no regulations prohibiting livestock unless they violate public-nuisance laws. Several residents keep chickens, bees, ducks or a goat, and there is a least one milk cow in town.
The town board is considering enforceable regulations on keeping livestock, but details still need to be worked out before a board vote.
“Right now it’s a free-for all,” said town board member Michelle Black.
During town hall meetings and focus groups, some residents have argued that livestock and accompanying smells, flies, manure and noise don’t belong in town. Others say chickens, goats, bees, fish and cows are a sustainable family food source.
Results of a survey of residents varied, but 79 percent of respondents stopped short of allowing cows, officials said.
Board member Will Stone strongly objected to any new regulation limiting his ability to raise his animals for food.
“I’m the only guy with a cow in town, and I hope I can continue to provide my own food. It hurts to see the town go to the yuppies and become so sanitized.”
Mayor Rachel Simbeck said she favors a plan that regulates livestock without disturbing neighbors or harming health.
“The intention of ordinance is to allow a limited amount of animals – there is a movement to be self-sustaining,” she said. “We need to do it in a way that is respectful to neighbors and enforceable.”
Proposed regulations would require a permit to raise livestock in town, including horses, bovines, goats, alpacas, turkeys, ducks, and other fowl, sheep, mules, llamas and donkeys.
Structures such as chicken coops would be required to be set back 30 feet from an inhabited home, church or business, and 10 feet from a property line.
“There would be certain conditions to raise larger animals,” said town administrator Andrea Phillips, and those standards are being researched.
The town is considering grandfathering in residents who currently have livestock. When animals die or are added, if structures moved, or if there is a nuisance issue, those residents would need to comply with the permit process.
Cooperation and considering neighbors is key, boardmembers said. Communicating and negotiating approval of livestock plans with nearby neighbors is a component of the draft proposed rules.
“If you are raising animals well, keeping it cleaned up, and controlling odors, it will be OK,” said board member Matt Baskin.
Board members asked for advice on whether Stone’s vote would be a conflict of interest because of his cow.
The town attorney said he thought Stone could vote because the rules would affect the town, not just one property.
Stone objected to the possibility that the town could make him move his animals.
“It is my livelihood,” he said before walking out of the meeting.