Simi Valley Council to Look at Making Barnyard Critters Legal

First, horses and house pets frolicked in Simi Valley Councilman Paul Miller’s rural neighborhood. Then llamas. Now, chickens, goats and other barnyard creatures may take up legal residence.

Spurred by a Planning Commission decision last month to permit llamas in the Bridle Path neighborhood and surrounding area, Miller has asked the City Council to review the matter and allow for other animals as well.

“A lot of the residents up here have chickens and goats and pigs,” even though the area is not zoned for them, Miller said. “My feeling is, since we’re dealing with this issue, why don’t we look at changing the law for all these animals?”

The council is tentatively scheduled to consider the matter at its Feb. 6 meeting.

Because Miller lives in Bridle Path, he cannot participate in discussion of the issue or vote on it, according to the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission.

Until last month, horses and house pets were the only animals allowed by city law in the area. A special exception had been granted by the city’s planning department eight years ago to allow resident Greg Dames to keep llamas on his two-acre lot.

When another llama owner recently took his doe-eyed pet for a walk on a horse trail, some horse-owning residents decided that enough was enough. They petitioned the Planning Commission to kick out the camel-like beasts.

Opponents argued that llamas smell bad, spit, frighten horses and could contribute to a decrease in property values.

But the Planning Commission allowed the llamas to stay, prompting members of the Bridle Path Homeowners Assn. to urge Miller to appeal the decision.

Miller said he does not agree with the association’s objections, but thought that the matter was worthy of council consideration. And his actions save the llamas’ foes the cost of appealing the issue.

Appeals filed by members of the public cost from $953 to $2,753. When two or more members of the City Council file an appeal, the fee is waived.

Councilwoman Barbara Williamson joined Miller in filing the appeal, at his request.

“I don’t have a feeling one way or the other about” the llama question, Williamson said. “I am truly open-minded about it.”

If the council overturns the Planning Commission’s decision, llamas could be barred from the neighborhood. Or the council could vote to allow for a wide range of beast and fowl.

“I want to make it clear that I’ve got nothing against llamas being up here,” Miller said. “But I do think this is an issue it would be good for the council to discuss.”

Miller said he hoped that the council would consider rezoning the area to allow not only for llamas but also for chickens, goats, pigs and other barnyard animals.

“I would hate to see it become so urbanized here in Simi Valley that we would rule out people having animals,” Miller said.

When reached for comment Tuesday, Penny Wilson, spokeswoman for the association, said the group had agreed not to speak to the press.

Dames expressed dismay that the issue remains unresolved.

“What has come about is a petty, over-the-fence argument,” he said. “It has turned from a tempest in a teapot into a neighborhood war, which is unfortunate.”