Tazewell County Woman Pushing for Change in Land Ordinance
By: Alexandra Sutter
Updated: June 15, 2012
TAZEWELL COUNTY -- Kelli Otting is a self-sustainable gardener. Now, she's hoping to take it one step further.
Otting has always wanted to grow her own food and raise her own food supply. She's hoping to get chickens and goats.
"We're really aware of eating healthy. We want to eat as healthy as we possible can," said Otting.
Otting is pushing to loosen the current restrictions that are keeping her from her lifelong dream.
"These restrictions are just too restrictive. I don't understand why a county would put restrictions so severe in place that homeowners couldn't use their property for a sustainable food supply," said Otting.
The current ordinance states that you must live on 20 acres of land to have these animals in residential zoned areas of the county. Otting only lives on one acre.
Last Tuesday, the Tazewell County Land Commission announced they will look into changing the ordinance.
Tazewell County Community Development Administrator Kristal Deininger said the commission "has directed staff to perform research and gather information," to re-invent the ordinance.
Deininger said that so far no one has come forward opposing a change. She noted that some people might consider having these animals on smaller, residential properties a nuisance.
Otting is now waiting to see what the committee decides to do at their July meeting.
