CINNAMINSON, NJ — The Cinnaminson Township Committee has established a one-year pilot program that allows residents to keep chickens in their backyard.

Not all residents supported the committee's Aug. 15 decision.

The backyard chicken pilot program sets limits on how many of these animals may be owned at any one time, establishes specific standards for these chickens' coops and mandates those who have these animals to take a class that discusses the ins and outs of backyard chicken ownership.

Even so, Katrina Kawash, who lives at 208 Sussex Road, said the ordinance allowing the pilot program's creation was put together far too quickly.

"It seems very poorly thought out [and] essentially protects all of our residents who want chickens," she said. "I don't think that this ordinance does anything to help residents who are dealing with neighbors who have chickens and suffering the downsides."

Other residents expressed concerns that backyard chickens increase the number of animal-based diseases and animal-based predators.

Still another resident, William Townes of 923 Davis Road, said some current Cinnaminson backyard chicken owners are not taking care of the animals. He also claimed the township is not holding the negligent owners responsible.

"I don't see anybody tending to them on a daily basis," he said. "If I have windows open and have to work at certain times a day or night those things keep me up."

"Other people ... have been complaining [and] have been told by the township that there's nothing that can be done," he continued.

Cinnaminson Township Solicitor Stuart Platt said at the Aug. 15 meeting some of the concerns that residents discussed were "valid."

He added, "for every report that says it's bad, I can show you two reports that say it's good ... That's why Cinnaminson is doing this as a pilot program. A lot of what you talk about is what might happen and what could happen."

He continued, "if it is a problem, then it will be addressed accordingly ... a governing body always has a right to repeal an ordinance at any time, so I don't think this is permanent by any means."

Got a news tip? Story idea? Send me an email with the details at janel.miller@patch.com.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.