Coop to roost elsewhere

A months-long cockfight over a proposed backyard chicken coop came to an end Monday as the La Cañada Flintridge City Council voted 5-0 to deny a side yard setback variance that would have allowed the installation of a coop to go forward.

Holger and Elizabeth Besch, who live at 5128 Oakwood Ave., had hoped to build an 8 x 17 x 7 feet hen house in the southeast corner of their backyard. On March 11, they applied for and were granted a setback variance that would allow them to build within a few feet of their neighbor’s property line.

“The applicant, Mrs. Besch, offered to put in a solid wall that would be facing her neighbor, and also to paint it a foliage green or dark brown to reduce visibility,” Robert Stanley, director of community development, said. “At that point, staff has the authority to approve the waiver, which we did.”

The property owner to the south, however, objected to the location of the coop. Betty Cole filed an appeal with the city, saying that the hen house would generate unwanted noise and smells, as well as reduce her property’s value and make it more difficult to sell her house at a future date.

Speaking at the city council meeting on Monday, Cole reiterated her stance, noting that there were several alternative locations in the Besch’s large backyard where to coop could go. Cole added that she is considering building a guest house in the northeast corner of her lot, and that she did not want the coop in such close proximity.

The city council members ultimately agreed. They voted to deny the sideyard setback variance, but voted to approve a backyard setback variance which will allow the Beschs to build the coop with two feet of their rear property line.