Brownwood Looking at Rezoning Due to Livestock Issues

According to City Manager Bobby Rountree, these complaints range from noise, odors, flies, droppings to unsanitary runoff onto adjacent properties. Currently the city allows animals (including livestock) in all zoning districts where property size equals or exceeds one acre. City staff has looked at re-wording the "private animal lots" section of the zoning code in an effort to alleviate or minimize these complaints.

Brownwood's Planning and Zoning Commission first held a public hearing regarding the ordinance change on May 3, which was well attended by citizens, with evenly divided support and opposition of the proposed changes, explained Rountree. At that meeting, action was tabled and a sub-committee was formed consisting of planning and zoning members Rick Newton and Donnie Stegemoller along with staff members Jodie Kelly, Kevin Pate and Pat Chesser to further research and discuss the ordinance changes. This subcommittee met on May 15 and made additional changes and clarifications to the ordinance and re-submitted the changes to the P&Z Commission for a second public hearing which was held on June 7. This hearing was well attended by citizens; however, only a few citizens spoke to the commission, said Rountree. The P&Z Commission at that time voted unanimously to recommend revising the zoning ordinance as submitted by the sub-committee.

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