The Umatilla County Planning Commission meets May 2, 2024, for a public hearing at the Vert Auditorium in Pendleton on changes to animal density codes.

PENDLETON — The Umatilla County Planning Commission voted to recommend increasing the number of small livestock for some residences.

The eight-member commission at its public hearing Thursday evening, May 2, in the Vert Auditorium in Pendleton voted 5-3 to recommend approving the increase of small livestock per acre from two to four on single family dwellings that are not farmland and are outside city limits and urban growth boundaries in the county. The commission also approved more minor changes to text regarding location and clarity.

But the commission voted 7-1 to recommend denial of changes to the code’s section regarding fowl and roosters, which has caused particular public outcry.

“Our job is to present something, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing, it could be a portion to the county commissioners on these proposed changes,” commission Chair Suni Danforth said. “It can be all, partial, or nothing.”

The recommendations go to the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners for consideration at its regular meeting June 5 at 10 a.m. in the Vert Auditorium.

The planning commission heard from county staff as well as about 30 members of the public during the hearing on changes to the county development code regarding animal density. Around 100 people attended in person.

Before the vote, a group of about 15 audience members left indignantly after being told the time for public input was closed and they were no longer part of the discussion.

“For me, I think we did good,” Danforth said in an interview after the meeting. “What I feel really good about is the community turnout, and there were many different points brought up. There was a lot of desire to get various points across and I think that got accomplished and I think that people got heard.”

The East Oregonian will have a fuller account of the meeting in an upcoming report.