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Saturday, October 31, 2026 Worcester County, Massachusetts · Change town
Government · Zoning Hearing Board

Dudley board OKs 8 chickens, orders geese gone

Dudley Zoning Board of Appeals grants chicken permit, orders geese removed within 60 days.

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Zoning Hearing Board · Meeting of March 5, 2026

Dudley Zoning Board of Appeals grants chicken permit, orders geese removed within 60 days. The board unanimously approved a special permit for eight hens, no roosters, at 54 Old Southbridge Road, allowing three turkeys to stay but requiring the applicant, known as "Sam," to get rid of two geese after a neighbor complained about noise and smell. Members said the geese were "probably the issue," not the chickens or turkeys.

The applicant said he didn't know Dudley's right-to-farm exemption requires five acres or more; his lot is about half an acre. He said a town staffer, Amanda, walked him through the permitting process: "I did everything that Amanda asked me to do." A 20-day appeal period follows the decision.

In the full story:

  • The complete report — 738 words

Source: the Zoning Hearing Board meeting of March 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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