To the editor:
Notice to all residents of Presque Isle in the Urban Residential Zones: I recently received notice from the Presque Isle Zoning Board that “Harboring, training or raising dogs, cats, birds, horses or other animals” is strictly prohibited in Presque Isle. I received this letter because I do have several hobbies, one of which is the keeping laying hens.One neighbor was strongly opposed and complained loudly. The Code Enforcement Officer (CEO), after 14 months of hearing the complaints gave me notice to get rid of my chickens. I appealed the decision, and was told the complaints of smell (there really isn’t any) nor the complaint of illness (CDC reports no known illnesses associated with casual contact with chickens, much less 200 feet away), were not the reason to uphold the CEO’s action, but because the definition of “Home Occupation” includes the sentence above. The motion was quickly seconded, voted on and passed.
Other definitions within the ordinances of Presque Isle lead me to believe that “Home occupation” means “livelihood,” or employment at one’s residence. Although, I do work very hard at my home raising my children, growing an organic garden, keeping up with the house work, I do not make any money from any of those activities. Instead, I own a business on Main Street to pay the bills my home life generates. I also get no money from raising chickens. In fact, they are costing me a great deal of money right now. In addition, I own two dogs and two cats. These animals do not generate any income for me either.
When I apply the Zoning Board’s ruling about my chickens to the other animals in the list, I have to assume I must get rid of these animals, too, because, like my hens, they live on my property and I try to train them, but, like my hens, I do not get any financial gain from them either. I must also state there are also at least 16 more dogs on my street, an unknown number of cats, and who knows how many birds, ferrets, rabbits or other animals. With equal protection under the law, this ruling should not solely affect my house nor just my street, but all of urban residential Presque Isle. A side question: If raising dogs in Presque Isle is a prohibited “home occupation,” why is the city issuing licenses for dogs?
If you have concerns about the ruling that “harboring, training and raising dogs, cats, birds, horses or other animals,” is a prohibited “home occupation” and how it will affect you and your pets, please let your city councilmen, the city manager, the zoning board or the code enforcement officer know.
Mari Cochran
Presque Isle
