2011-02-01 P & Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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I Sug�esfed Ame«dmen�s ta Genterville's Pro�osed Beekeeping �CC�ft�aC1G� [Submitted by Terry L. Johnson for the Z/1/�011 P&Z meeting] Honey bees may be kept in other residential areas subject to the following conditions: 1. Lot size shall be a minimum of one-half acre. 2. No more than two honey bee colonies (hives) shall be allowed in the first year of beekeeping. If no nuisance complaints are received by the city from the beekeeper's neighbors during the initial year, the number of honey bee hives may be expanded based on property size as follows: • 2 hives on one-half acre � 4 hives on three-quarters of an acre • 6 hives on three-quarters to one acre • 8 hives on one to five acres [This proposed amendment provides a trial period in which the new beekeeper demonstrates the ability to manage honey bees safely. The suggested number of hives based on property size is the same as that allowed in the Minneapolis ordinance.] If a beekeeper captures a swarm of honey bees, the bees may be kept on the beekeeper's property temporarily without violating restrictions on the number of allowed hives. [When a hive duplicates itself, a mass of bees (a "swarm") collects near the original hive while the bees locate a new home. This provision allows a beekeeper who already has the maximum number of hives to capture a swarm and keep it until a suitable location is found.] 3. Hives shall be set back from property lines a minimum of 25 feet. 4. Permission must be obtained from owners of all property abutting the proposed site. [Suggested rewording and clarification based in part on the Minneapolis ordinance] To receive an initial permit from the City, new beekeeping applicants must receive permission from (a) 100 percent of abutting homeowners who have homes and maintained yard space within 150 feet of the hive(s), and (b) 75 percent of abutting homeowners who have homes and maintained yard space greafer than 150 feet from the hive(s). [This provision takes into account the actual location of the hives relative to their distance from a neighbor's house and maintained yard space. While permission should of course be obtained from all neighbors closest to the hives, gaining permission from those whose homes and living spaces are farther away (especialiy when undeveloped or wild spaces intervene) should not carry the same weight as those who live closer to the hives.] 5. A permit shall be obtained from the city with payment of a fee as noted in the city fee schedule. 6. The applicant must document either having received formal training in beekeeping from a recognized institution or organization or have previous experience in beekeeping. [Setting a specific number of hours of training is an arbitrary requirement, since there is no standardized training for beekeepers and respected institutions or organizations might offer courses of different lengths yet achieve the same outcome. The ordinance should also recognize that people may already have previous experience in beekeeping and not need training.)