WORKSHOP ITEM - Lori Johnson, City Planner
Title
BEE ORDINANCE
Background
At the July 6, 2020 city council meeting, residents spoke during the open forum requesting that the city allow for the keeping of honey bees in residential areas within the city. The council requested staff prepare a report for an upcoming workshop. Staff presented research and options for allowing bees to be kept within the City of Blaine to the council on August 9. Council directed staff to provide an ordinance for review regarding this issue.
The city council requested that the ordinance have strict requirements for the keeping of bees which could include an acreage minimum, notification requirements, a yearly renewal process, the requirement for training at the University of Minnesota and a water source for the bees.
The following items are proposed to be included in the performance standards section of the ordinance regarding the keeping of bees:
a) All bee keeping operations must be registered with the City of Blaine. The city council will establish a fee for the registration.
b) Registration process consists of an application, the submittal of a site and building plan with location and specifics of the hives and the setbacks from all property lines and structures, including those on adjacent property.
c) No more than two bee colonies are to be located on properties that must be more than ½ acre in size.
d) Colonies must be located in the rear yard only and must have a setback of at least 30 feet from all property lines and 25 feet from any trail easement.
e) Colonies must be located at least 50 feet from homes that are located on adjacent property.
f) A consistent water source must be provided within 10 feet of each colony.
g) The applicant must provide evidence of completion of a beekeeping course from the University of Minnesota or other comparable institution.
h) The city, upon receiving the application for a bee keeping permit, will notify all property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. The city will give the adjacent residents two weeks to respond to the notice with any objection, and will be specifically asked if bee allergies are present in any household. If bee allergies are present in an adjacent household (within 200 feet), the bee keeping permit will be denied.
i) The license for the keeping of bees must be renewed each year with an annual fee charged. The notification process will be conducted each year.
These suggestions were largely modeled after the Fridley requirements for the keeping of bees. Also of note is that all references to bees in the FR (Farm Residential) areas will be removed, since the new proposed bee keeping ordinance allows the keeping of bees in any zoning district, including commercial and industrial areas.
Staff suggests an initial application fee of $75, with a renewal fee of $25.
Recommendation
It is requested that the council review the contents of the proposed beekeeping ordinance and provide input for staff on such ordinance. Once comments have been received staff will prepare a code amendment item for planning commission and city council review.