Title
Discussion over regulations associated with Beekeeping
Body
Issue/Request:
Discuss greater allowances for the placement of bee colonies. Staff has drafted new standards and would like CEDC discussion on the proposed provisions. Afterwards, staff would like to solicit public input and return with a formal ordinance.
Proposed Committee Action:
After hearing the staff presentation and discussion by the committee, staff would like to solicit public input and return at a future date with an ordinance.
Background:
Lee’s Summit’s existing regulations on beekeeping are brief and restrictive with respect to some other communities in the metro. The current standards are as follows,
“It shall be unlawful to keep or harbor any bees in the City except in agricultural areas and four hundred (400) feet from inhabitants other than the owners thereof. Any beehive used or occupied by bees in violation of this section is hereby declared to be a nuisance. It shall be unlawful to keep or maintain any hive in the City except in areas four hundred (400) feet from inhabitants other than the owners thereof.”
The dual restriction of a 400 foot buffer coupled with the agricultural areas precludes any sort of urban colony. In contrast, Overland Park’s standard requires that a colony be no closer than 25 feet to a residential property line or 75 feet to the nearest residence. The Overland Park, Prairie Village, Olathe and Independence ordinances are attached to the packet for reference.
Staff will discuss pros and cons of urban colonies while highlighting the regulatory approach from other communities.
Presenter
Joshua Johnson, Development Services
Rodney Wagner, Animal Control