The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-01-31
RALPH MILNER
WRITES MAYOR
ABOUT zONING
WOULD HAVE AN ORDINANCE
TO COVER MATTER PEND
ING PASSAGE OF zoNINc
ACT

EeY WeSIs ana particularly tnOo1
citizens who have manifested an
interest IN the coming idea and
have been diligently planning to
put their ideas IN effect, Is the
following letter from Ralph Nil
ner, for years a resident of this
city, and who still has a deep SEN
timentaL as well as property, IN
terest here.
The letter is addressed to VIII
lard II. Albury. mayor, and Is
published IN full. in the anticipa-
ton that the facts set forth win
have the desired effect:
ct is with the thought for the
future betterment of Key West
that this communication is writ
ten. II IS also my sincere hope
that some action may be taken
which viii speedily make unne-
cessary the lodging of complaints
such as mine,
= Il was "a resilient Of Key West
for more than thirteen years and
vku ndk - living there but
20 ~ tr5hsfef to Miami last Oc-
tober. Within the past two years
I acquired a piece of property Oh
FEagIer Ave. This property has
been improved and made into q
desirable residence. Before COM
inc TO Miami last October. I leas-
ed the house for the winter sea-
son to some people from Illinois.
After leasing the house, but
before the arrival Of the winter
tenants, my neighbor decided TO
start a chicken farm on the va
cant lot between his house and
mine fronting on Flagler Ave. On
the arrival in Key West Of the
lessees. they were met by the
embarrassing neighbor with the
threat that he would kill their dog
If it killed any chickens. All this
happened before the people had
even entered the house which
they had rented. What a recep-
toni
They were persuaded against
their win to stay anyway and
give the place trial As it trans
PRED, these people found no fault
with the property with but one
exception. The neighbor's chick
ems proved to be a nuisance. The
dust raised al day long was most
unpleasant since the prevailing
wind carried it directly into the
house. But to make matters
worse, the man of the house suf-
fered from asthma and the con-
tinuous dust and feathers from
the chickens made life all but un-
bearable for him. ] understand
that he has been forced to go to
Orlando, Florida, TO consult a
specialist in the hope of gaining
some relief In case he does not
get relief. there is only one thing
for him TO do and that is TO 60
elsewhere. In which case I lose
a tenant and win probably have
difficulty finding another
Naturally no one win care TO
live alongside a chicken run and
be bothered continually with the
attendant dirt and orders Ny
neighbor has been approached
about the matter but maintains
that he win do what he pIeases
on his property and II his neigh
bors don't Ike il thah knt is khssr
affairzP NY, n tlls
Ee4f5ecf the fIgff<s pf1Vz
ileges Of his neighbors. Of -
when a resident ignores his dur
20 his neighhor. then there is only
recourse 70 the laws governing 3
community.
1T is my understanding that
there IS no ordinance in Key West
covering the regulation Of chicken
runs. II there is none, then |
think that YOU wiz agree with me
that there certainly should be.
Key West is on the verge of an
era Of prosperity through the in
flux Of outsiders seeking winter
homes. Just how soon that happy
state Is realized win depend en-
tireiy upon what Key West has
20 offer IN the way Of desirable
homes and homeSiteS. And no
matter what attractions the town
offers through its wonderful CHM
ate and excellent fishing facilities
the people who buy homes win
wanz some assurance from the
city that those homes VIII con-
tinue 10 be as desirable in the fu-
ture as they are az present In
short. guarantees must be offered
that 10 nuisanceS VIII be allowed
b exist that viii cause annoyance
and discomfort and property de-
probation City zoning Is the
only real solution. ! understand
that city zoning has been agitated
Cor some time What progress has
been made I do not know. Prob
ably The passage Of = zoning act
would require some time. In the
meantime. would il not be pos
sible 70 pass a city ordinance cev-
ering such things as the keeping
Of large numbers Of chickens On