Stonington — The Planning and Zoning Commission continued a public hearing Tuesday on a proposal to allow households to raise up to six hens in residential areas, after commissioners and residents raised concerns about odor, chicken escapes, insufficient setbacks and impact on property values.

The hearing will continue on Aug. 20 at Mystic Middle School.

Acting Commission Chairman John Prue said he felt there is significant work to do on the proposed zoning amendment before the commission can act on it. Resident Gail Shea told the commission that chickens can be problematic, out of place in residential areas and that any regulations have to be carefully crafted.

While town regulations technically allow dogs, cats, fowl and other animals compatible with human habitation, the town has been guided in recent years by a legal opinion that states hens are not compatible with human habitation and are classified as grazing animals and thus restricted to lots of at least 130,000 square feet.

The change would allow hens on all lots in the zones, regardless of size. They would have to live in fenced enclosures with a coop. No roosters are allowed on lots of less than 130,000 square feet.

The amendment is being proposed by Chicken Lovers Urge Change. Its founder, Peg Moran, presented the commission Tuesday with several legal articles on regulations in other municipalities and suggested some changes to her proposal.

Moran has said chicken eggs provide a nutritious and sustainable protein source for residents. She said two hens provide enough eggs to feed a person for a year.

She has said the proposed zoning amendment is molded after ones in effect in Hamden and New Haven, which are among a fast-growing number of communities that have changed regulations to accommodate chickens.

j.wojtas@theday.com