Housing, Chickens, and Recreation at the PZC

Like Stafford itself, the Zoning Regulations are a work in progress, evolving to accommodate the changing needs of the town, and, sometimes, for the sake of clarity. At the September 18, 2025, Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, text amendments to the regulations were on the agenda, but it wasn’t a private citizen requesting a change. Instead, the commissioners put forth ideas for discussion, and Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO) Andrew Marchese asked for a bit of clarity.

Commissioner Rich Shuck introduced a “Stafford Zoning & Subdivision Regulation Action Plan” that covered everything from the possible changes to housing zones discussed at their previous meeting to ways to address short-term rentals formally. Specifically, the idea of requiring licensing for short-term rentals, rather than a zoning regulation, could allow the town to collect fees that could then be used to pay a company to manage complaints and enforcement related to these rental properties. 

There were several other issues on the action plan that did not receive as much discussion, such as a full preview of the zoning map and regulations to “ensure zoning addresses modern activities (e.g. disc golf, ropes courses); add categories where needed.” However, stay tuned for further discussion and potential changes as the commission continues its deliberations.

Over in the zoning enforcement world, it’s chickens that are causing literal and figurative headaches. ZEO Marchese said that he is receiving many calls about chickens and that the regulations are currently ambiguous. While one regulation allows people to keep chickens without a permit, another outlines more stringent requirements in agricultural areas. 

This has led to some confusion, and as the calls mount, Marchese needs a better understanding of what’s allowed. Roaming chickens seem to be a problem, one I personally witnessed while driving down Route 190. Three fluffy chickens pecked their way along the sidewalk on the corner of Main and Prospect Street, but luckily did not make any sudden attempts to get to the other side. Meanwhile, elsewhere in town, someone with a dozen roosters is driving nearby neighbors nuts. 

The commission instructed Marchese to draft the suggested regulations that he believes would help clarify the issues and provide him with better guidelines for enforcement.