Article: Country Living Poses a Risk for City-Dwellers
6/30/2005 Harvey W. Berman
When Mr. and Mrs. Papresh bought their 1.07 acre parcel in Shelby Township in 1996 including two chicken coops, they started raising chickens and selling eggs.
At the time, the area around the property was largely undeveloped and the township zoning ordinance allowed poultry if the farm was at least three acres. However, in 1998, developments that included large homes were built near the Papresh farm. Neighbors complained of unpleasant odors and sounds from the farm and in 2004, the township filed a lawsuit against the Papreshes asserting both a nuisance and a violation of the township’s zoning ordinance.
