Terry Gombos doesn’t mind the flock of pigeons living in her next door neighbor’s back yard.
She said the birds — which are housed in a white shed close to her property line — don’t make too much noise, don’t fly over her house and don’t poop in her pool.
“They have their own little house there,” Gombos said. “They don’t cause any problems. They are really beautiful pigeons.”
Gombos will tell that much to Zoning Board of Appeals next month, when the board holds a hearing on whether Carriage Drive resident Shari Kalici should have to remove the estimated 100 pigeons from his property.
Kalici was issued a cease and desist order in July for having the birds.
The order, dated July 28, says that the pigeons violate the town’s zoning regulations.
The relevant portion of the regulations states that residents are allowed to keep “a very limited number of livestock, foul, rabbits or pigeons for personal use, enjoyment or consumption” as long as they’re kept in a sanitary and non-offensive manner. The home sits on a half acre in a residential subdivision.
Kalici has appealed the order with the Zoning Board of Appeals. The hearing on the appeal will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 at Seymour Town Hall.
According to the cease and desist order, a neighbor complained about the pigeons on July 15. Gombos said she believed it was a neighbor who lives several houses away from the Kalicis.
Kalici did not return phone calls seeking comment. A family member who came to the door at their home Thursday said the family attorney advised them not to speak to the media about the order.
The small white house for the pigeons was visible from the street. The birds were not.
Gombos said the family has kept the birds for about 10 years and that they appear to be show birds.
“They’re fancy,” Gombos said. “They’re not your regular pigeons. They’re nice to look at.”
Zoning Enforcement Officer William Paecht declined to comment on the matter because a decision with the Zoning Board of Appeals is still pending.
