Ogdensburg passes ordinances regulating stormwater, backyard chickens

Ogdensburg. The Ogdensburg Council unanimously passed two ordinances at its Jan. 25 meeting.

Stormwater management

The council passed a stormwater management ordinance to bring the borough into compliance with changes issued a year ago by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on Monday, March 8.

Borough engineer Michael Vreeland said the most significant changes mandate the use of green infrastructure and put new limits on the quantity of stormwater runoff allowed. The Land Use Board will review and comment on the updated ordinance, he said.

Backyard fowl

The council passed an ordinance regulating the keeping of backyard fowl. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on Monday, March 8.

Mayor George Hutnick said the borough does not currently have a livestock ordinance. Because keeping chickens is more popular than keeping other kinds of livestock, he said, the Land Use Board and and borough council set rules on the number of hens permitted and required distance from neighboring properties.

The approved ordinance allows no more than six egg laying hens, with no roosters are allowed, at single-family residences only.

Councilman Anthony Nasisi was absent from the meeting.