Unlike those who believe chickens could unite State College neighborhoods, other residents are fighting to stop the passing of a new, redrafted ordinance that could allow chickens on lots less than 10 acres in the borough.

"There is definitely another side to the story," Jane Liszka, 610 N. Burrowes St., said. "We are actively trying to prevent this ordinance from going through but are mainly creating awareness about [the chickens]."

Liszka has been one of the stronger advocates against the pro-chicken ordinances, holding town meetings with fellow neighbors, attending State College Borough Council meetings regularly and strategizing on how to keep State College a suburban neighborhood.

"This is not the farm country," she said. "I think it would possibly devalue our property. We simply want to keep the nice way of life within the borough."

Within the past month, the decision of whether to redraft the ordinance has caused heated debate at borough council meetings. Some have said the chickens could help unite the State College community.

Liszka, along with fellow resident and "anti-chicken" advocate Linda Hendrickson, 128 Hillcrest Ave., though, are mainly concerned about the negative effects this possible ordinance could create.

"There probably are some owners who take good care of them with their Martha Stewart chicken coops," Hendrickson said. "But there's no guarantee that every other chicken owner will take as much care of them ... and enforcement would become an issue. If every fifth house has chickens, the neighbors would then have to police them."

Borough council member Silvi Lawrence, the only council member to vote against re-drafting the ordinance, is concerned about the increase in cost to the taxpayers, resulting from additional personnel and training needed to enforce it.

"An inspector within the Health Department requires a different training if they are dealing with chickens instead of a restaurant," Lawrence said.

Thomas S. Kurtz, the health director of the borough health department, had no specific figures as to what the potential cost the ordinance might incur.

"Clearly there will be additional work," Kurtz said. "But we don't have a projection on how many people will have chickens. ... And without knowing the exact volume, we can't make any accurate predictions."

Kurtz, however, concluded through the findings of the Health Department the chickens do not cause a public health issue when dealing with a limited number of chickens.

"There may be other issues such as noise, but that is a problem pertaining to the zoning commission," he said.

Zoning officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.

As for uniting the neighborhood, Lawrence and residents Liszka and Hendrickson said this debate is dividing the community instead of uniting it.

"I really don't see how it brings the neighbors together if the neighbors are already objecting to it," Lawrence said.