Reduced-size farm at Back Loop residence gets Planning Commission OK

Up to 100 chickens and ducks, plus 15 other farm animals — half the number sought — allowed; neighbors express concerns about noise, odors and harm to property values

An area marked in red shows the approximate location where a Juneau resident plans to raise chickens and other farm animals on his residential property. (Google Maps satellite image)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

A man seeking to keep up to 200 chickens and 30 farm animals on his Back Loop neighborhood property will be allowed half that total — and a much lower number during colder months — under a conditional use permit approved by the Juneau Planning Commission on Tuesday.

The approval came after several neighbors objected, citing concerns such as noise, odor, environmental degradation and bear activity. A neighbor interviewed after the hearing said the reduction in animals allowed did not alleviate her concerns.

Shawn Kantola, who applied for the permit, told commission members he plans to start with much fewer animals for a non-commercial farm on his 2.2 acres of property at 10226 and 10228 Silver Street. But he said he hopes the effort will grow over time to fulfil his family’s food needs.

"My family, with seven mouths to feed under one roof, I think we could eat two to three chickens a week," he said. "So if you had 52 weeks a year, two and a half chickens per week, you're 125 chickens to raise at that time."

The family also hopes to raise other farm animals — with Kantola mentioning pigs specifically. When asked if he was seeking to raise 30 cows, he replied "No, that’d be horrible."

Kantola has also said previously he and his wife are homeschooling their children, so the project may be an educational activity for them. He said he is still finishing construction of a house at the property and hopes to begin raising animals next spring.

The Planning Commission at an Aug. 11 meeting, at which only five of nine members were present, asked Kantola to return to September’s meeting with more specifics about what type of animals he wants and how many of them. He was also asked a range of questions by commission members on Wednesday such as how he plans to handle sick animals and carcasses.

Kantola said there are things he has not researched such as bird flu and whether any of his neighbors have private water wells. He also did not provide a specific plan for disposal of carcasses, including sick animals, other than saying he doesn’t plan to store them on-site. "Every hunter and fisherman in Juneau disposes of carcasses — fish carcasses, animal carcasses," he said, adding "most animal carcasses are disposed of in a way that goes back into the environment."

More than 20 written comments about the proposed farm were submitted by residents and organizations to the Planning Commission, with the vast majority in opposition. Among those supporting the project was Maureen Shivers, who stated it can be "a responsible and productive part of Juneau's community."

"I believe that a farm of this type would be a positive addition to Juneau and would provide an opportunity to increase local food production and agricultural activity within our community," she wrote. "As with any business or land use, there are potential risks and concerns that should be considered, but I believe those concerns should be addressed through reasonable regulations rather than preventing the farm from operating altogether."

Four people offering in-person or online testimony during Tuesday’s meeting all expressed opposition to the proposal. Cari Atkinson, a neighbor of Kantola’s, said "I don't begrudge him having a farm, not at all. I just don't think it belongs in this neighborhood at all — or any neighborhood in town, to be honest."

"I am definitely allergic to all the feathers, all the hair, all the hay, the whole nine yards…and I'm really afraid that that is going to carry down towards my home and that I'm not going to be able to have a true functioning life," Atkinson said.

Sheryl Weinberg, another nearby resident, said she has concerns about noise, odors and harm to property values, but suggested "there could be a compromise where there are some very strict guidelines in terms of limiting the numbers."

"I don't think (you) should approve it tonight," she told the Planning Commission members. "I think that Mr. Cantola should do more research, and the Planning Commission, and limit it significantly. I don't think that a lot of pigs or any other animals are appropriate in our neighborhood."

A motion allowing up to 100 chickens and ducks, plus 15 other farm animals, on Kantola’s property between March and September, and 50 chickens/ducks and four other farm animals during other months was made by Planning Commission Vice Chair Lacey Derr.

"I really appreciate Mr. Kantola being here, and he is trying to do this dream within means and do it the correct way…and he's really not asking for anything outside of the norm, once I started digging into it," she said.

Other commission members generally expressed support.

"We don't know 100% what all of the impacts will be on the neighborhood, on the wetlands, and on the sound and on the odor," Mandy Cole said. "And so, not knowing that it's better to start a little smaller than it is to go straight for the maximum possible scenario, and I think that is a very measured approach and appreciate it."

Concern was expressed by commission member Carlee Simon — after she directed numerous questions to Kantola and city planning staff during the hearing about the potential impacts of the farm — who said "I feel that we don't have enough information to know things."

"He did come asking for 200 chickens and 30 farm animals without us knowing where the manure is going to be kept, without really knowing how it's going to be stored, what is going to be the facility where the processing occurs, what happens with the carcasses, what biosecurity stages are going to be taken care of," she said. "I am feeling very much that there is so much about character and impact and size that we do not know."

Simon joined the other six members at the meeting in voting in favor of the conditional use permit with fewer animals after successfully adding an amendment that "all manure and other refuse must be composted or disposed of at least annually and stored under cover."

"Once it was clear there was support for the motion on the floor, I supported an additional amendment because I believed it improved that motion and added needed limitations," she stated in a message after the meeting.

The approved permit has several other conditions that include noise limits, an electrified fence to protect against bears, water quality safeguards, odors not being detectable beyond the property for more than 48 hours, and keeping slaughtering of animals out of view of adjacent properties and public right-of-way areas.

Kantola, when asked after the hearing about the commission’s decision and if the reduced number of animals will affect his plans, replied "I don’t know" to both questions.

Disappointment about the decision was expressed afterward by Maureen Hansen, a neighbor who expressed opposition to the farm during the hearing. She said 100 chickens instead of 200 will still have a significant impact, and she questioned how provisions such as the odor restriction will be measured and enforced.

"I think it's super short-sighted that they are trying to make a decision on something that they clearly stated is not addressed in our city code in any definitive way, and they just did the precedent," she said. "It's not in any of their neighborhoods."

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.