4-H projects ruffle feathers

Seventh-grader Nicholas Kostick has been raising chickens for 4-H competitions for four years, but suddenly his Ham Lake neighbors are squawking.

"I was surprised," the 13-year-old said Tuesday of learning that a complaint had been filed in City Hall. "We live by a ranch where there are 23 horses. I have 10 hens, and I've had more. What did I do wrong?"

The Kosticks, who have four children involved with 4-H activities, didn't mean to ruffle any feathers, said Nicholas' dad, Jim Kostick, an engineer. The family has lived in Ham Lake for 11 years and was unaware of violating any city ordinances.

But by raising hens and roosters -- as well as horses and rabbits -- the Kostick children raised the ire of a neighbor who filed a formal complaint with the city. According to Ham Lake code, families living in residential single-family (R-1) zoning districts aren't allowed to raise livestock on their property.

When the Kosticks moved from Lino Lakes to Ham Lake 12 years ago, Jim Kostick contacted city officials, asking if his children could raise livestock for 4H activities -- and was told there was no ordinance prohibiting it, he said.

Which came first, the chickens or the ordinance? In 2005, the City Council approved an ordinance that requires a temporary conditional-use permit to raise livestock in residential areas and limits the number of chickens to 15.

The point seems moot, Mayor Paul Meunier said this week. "The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul allow raising livestock for 4-H purposes," Meunier said. "Why not Ham Lake?"

The Kosticks made a plea for their animals before the City Council in October.

"I think this ordinance should have some flexibility," said Sarah Kostick, 16, who won a best-in-breed blue ribbon and large trophy at the State Fair for a rabbit she raised. Sarah added that raising animals was doing "something productive for our community instead of just hanging out and playing with computers and all that junk that kids do these days."

An amendment to Article 9 of the city code will be considered at a public hearing on Jan. 12 before the Ham Lake Planning Commission.

It's not the first time the chicken amendment has come to roost in Ham Lake. Three years ago, one of Doug Degler's neighbors complained about his 14 hens. So he moved them to a neighbor's 48-acre farm down the road. Degler said he was never told why his neighbor complained.

Nicholas Kostick has no idea who filed the recent complaint against his family. Nicholas, who has seven siblings, has been raising animals for seven years. Sarah began her 4-H career in kindergarten. Michael, 14, who raises ducks, won a blue ribbon at the State Fair and was invited to a national competition, Nicholas said. Teresa, 11, raises rabbits.

"One of the nice things about raising hens and roosters is it teaches you to be responsible," said Nicholas, who is learning as much about human nature these days as he is about livestock. A soccer player and small-game hunter, Nicholas said he's wanted to be a geologist since he was 7.

"Raising chickens, I've learned about working with other people from around the state," Nicholas said. "I've learned about judging, which should help me some day with job interviews. It's very positive.

"I'm surprised anyone would complain."