A Windsor businessman has run afoul of the city’s poultry police.
Frank Gobbato, who owns Formula One Collision Centre on Tecumseh Road East, has been told by city bylaw enforcement officers he must get rid of 10 chickens and one very happy rooster by the end of May.
Gobbato said the chickens, which are housed in an immaculately kept coop on his expansive property, have become a popular attraction at his body shop, which also has a small cafe on the premises, since he acquired them more than three years ago.
Frank Gobbato, president Formula One Collision, feeds his chickens on his Tecumseh Road East property May 13, 2013. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)
“Our clients and staff love them and even some parents and kids from across Tecumseh Road come by on weekend to take a look,” said Gobbato while breaking bread with his flock on Monday afternoon.
He also has a small garden where he grows tomatoes and peppers for use in the cafe but said the eggs are for private consumption only.
“I also give them to friends and customers but we don’t use them in the cafe,” he said.
Frank Gobbato, of Formula One Collision on Tecumseh Road East, has chickens which produce eggs and they have become a cute attraction in the neighbourhood, May 13, 2013. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)
Regardless the chickens’ impact on the neighbourhood, Gobbato now has less than three weeks to find them a new coop after a recent visit from city bylaw enforcement officers.
He suspects a passerby made a complaint after being concerned the chickens might wander out into traffic.
The birds have the run of a five-acre parcel he bought from the city and have never gone near the road, Gobbato said.
But Ann Kalinowski, manager of compliance and enforcement for the city, said the bylaw regulating the keeping of animals is clear.
“It forbids chickens within city limits,” said Kalinowski. “It probably resulted from a complaint because that’s how most of our bylaw enforcement activities are conducted. If they’d been at the back of the property, it’s likely nobody would have known about them.”
No, that’s not a lawn ornament, that’s a real chicken on Tecumseh Road East. Frank Gobbato, of Formula One Collision, owns chickens which produce eggs and they have become a cute attraction in the neighbourhood, May 13, 2013. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)
Even an article in The Windsor Star almost three years ago, which prominently mentioned the chickens, failed to generate a visit from bylaw enforcement officers.
It was a little over two years ago that city council put an end to the urban chicken debate by voting not to form a committee to study the issue. The vote was five-five with Mayor Eddie Francis casting the deciding vote, much to the dismay of the urban egg-farming lobby.
“Council decided not to make any changes to the bylaw so we must enforce it as written,” said Kalinowski.
Gobbato said he has contacted his lawyer to see if there are any possible exceptions.
“Our family owned about 31 acres of farmland along this stretch of Tecumseh where Walmart and Rona now sit,” said Gobbato. “We still own about 13 acres and before we bought this property from the city it was overgrown with grass and weeds but now that we maintain it, it’s immaculate.”
Gobbato said he’s hoping his property can be grandfathered and that the chickens will be allowed to stay but Kalinowski said there are no provisions in the bylaw that would allow for exceptions.
“Maybe if Mayor Francis drops by for a dozen eggs, we can have a chat,” said Gobbato, making a final pitch for clemency.
Frank Gobbato, president Formula One Collision, feeds chickens on his Tecumseh Road East property May 13, 2013. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)
