Century Council Denies 3 Of 4 Barnyard Animal Variance Applications

April 8, 2014

The Century Town Council voted Monday night to deny three of four applications for variances under the town’s new animal control ordinance that prohibits non-conforming barnyard animals

The council first denied a variance requested for one horse for Ronald Bass at 6850 Jefferson Avenue. According to Mayor Freddie McCall, bass will move the horse to another location outside the town.

A  variance for Willie Owens at 460 Barnwell was denied for two horses because he does not actually own the property, according to county records.

The council also shot down a variance request by Roy and Rosie Hale at 541 East Pond Street for two horses. Town consultant Debbie Nickles said the lot is only one-fourth of an acre, when two acres are required per horse under the ordinance, and she said the property is in a flood plain.  Horses on the property only have the “mud and muck and feces and urine they are  walking in,” testified Escambia County Animal Control Officer Sgt. Stephanie Nowlin. The Hale’s son, Ramone Hale,  told the council that there had been horses kept on the property for years with no problems.

Monday night, the council did vote to approve a variance for Ernest and Jean Gandy at 9340 Old Flomaton Road, subject to a pen being moved to the rear of the two-acre property.

In mid-March, the council approved the first variance under the ordinance for Tom and Darla Warta to keep two horses and one steer on their 2.5 acre low density residential parcel at 7911 Jefferson Avenue.

As of December 23, it became illegal to keep a horse, mule, donkey, goat, sheep, or cow within the town limits except in areas that are zoned agricultural or rural residential. Hogs were already prohibited in all areas of the town.

One horse or cow is now allowed for every two acres, one donkey or mule per acre and one goat or sheep per one-half acre. The animals and their pens must be 200 feet or greater from a dwelling or property line.

Anyone with the regulated animals in an area not zoned agricultural or rural residential within the town limits, was required to register their animals at the Century Town Hall within 60 days from the passage of the ordinance. Anyone with nonconforming  animals must apply for and be granted a variance from the town council within six months or get rid of their animals.

Pictured top: Century Resident Roy Hale sits back with his eyes closed Monday as the Century Town Council discusses an animal control ordinance variance for his property at 541 East Pond Street. Pictured inset: Escambia County Animal Control Officer Sgt. Stephanie Nowlin discusses the poor living conditions of horses on Hale’s small lot. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Century Council Denies 3 Of 4 Barnyard Animal Variance Applications”

  1. math education required on April 9th, 2014 1:14 pm

    I went to Jay and apparently they didn’t teach me the right kind of math. If you can have one animal like a horse or cow per two acres, wouldn’t you need six acres for two horses and a cow?

  2. Michelle on April 9th, 2014 11:39 am

    What do these “Geniuses” think are going to happen to these animals that will have to be removed from “Over crowding”?
    This is a rural area, lots of farms. NOT Metropolis!! IDIOTS!!!

  3. just listing on April 8th, 2014 9:32 am

    The word “OR” where I came from did not mean “and”. Also, with only Two acres it seems impossible to keep animals “200″ feet from any property line or Dwelling. The council may need to rethink or inspect properties already given a “variance”. Just saying.>

  4. nod on April 8th, 2014 8:24 am

    Hail the power hungry town council. What
    Is next, you must paint your house blue?

  5. century resident on April 8th, 2014 7:19 am

    Shame on you Town Council members. Some of you need to clean your own yard up, it looks like you have animals living there. Did you put in for an ordiance? Election time is coming talk is lot of you are gone.

  6. ProudArmyParent on April 8th, 2014 7:10 am

    hmmmm, “A variance for Willie Owens at 460 Barnwell was denied for two horses because he does not actually own the property, according to county records.”

    “The Town of Century has discovered it does not actually own the property that contains all or a portion of four ball fields at a town park”.

    Just saying, Not owning property did not stop the Town of Century from building ballparks on property they didn’t own!

    I still say the variance is a crock!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News