CITY OF SANTA ANA. COMMUNITY MEETING City Hall Ross Annex Conference Room 1600 August 10, Urban Beekeeping ORDINANCE

Transcription

1 CITY OF SANTA ANA Urban Beekeeping COMMUNITY MEETING City Hall Ross Annex Conference Room 1600 August 10, 2017 ORDINANCE

2 Today s Agenda 1) Introduction & Background (3 minutes) 2) Current City Regulations (3 minutes) 3) How Cities Are Addressing Beekeeping (8 minutes) 4) Best Practices (4 minutes) 5) Proposed Draft Ordinance Regulations (10 minutes) 6) Next Steps & Timeline (2 minutes) 7) Community Feedback (30 minutes) Page 2

3 Introduction What is urban/backyard beekeeping? The practice of keeping bee colonies in urban areas Why is this becoming mainstream? To address the declining bee population o Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) Page 3

4 Introduction Why urban areas? Biodiversity Benefits of Urban Beekeeping Increases easy access to nutritious food source More fruitful gardens and plants due to increased bee pollination Increase in biodiversity Furnish individuals and families with honey, wax and other useful products Increase pollination of food crops Increase awareness of the food cycle and connection to agriculture Provides a positive family activity Page 3

5 Background Why an urban beekeeping ordinance now? Community interest in supporting the declining bee population and in the by-products of beekeeping 2015 bee incident Process Initiated by City Council Page 3

6 Current City Regulations Commercial beekeeping allowed only in the General Agricultural (A1) zone subject to approval of a Condition Use Permit by the Planning Commission and City Council Page 9

7 How Cities Are Addressing Beekeeping City Number of Hives Santa Monica 2 hives per lot --- San Diego Per Distance Distance ROW Lot Lines Buildings 5' from all property lines Tier A ( 1 to 2 Hives) outside all setbacks outside all setbacks or 15' from all or 20' from ROW property lines Tier B ( 3 or more Hives) 100' from ROW " from residential buildings not on same lot Barriers 6' tall barrier unless hive is located 8' above grade 6' tall barrier unless hive is located 8' above grade Hive Position Face away from or parallel to nearest property lines Faces most distant property line, away from entrances and walkways on premises to the extent possible while ensuring entrance faces most distant property line Los Angeles 1 hive per 2,500 SF of lot area 20' Not allowed in front yard and 5' from all other property lines --- 6' tall wall, fence or hedge unless hive is located 8' above ground Face away from nearest lot line Page 10

8 How Cities Are Addressing Beekeeping (cont.) City Number of Hives Distance ROW Lot Lines Buildings Barriers Hive Position Redondo Beach 1 colony per 3,370 SF of lot area; no more than 2 colonies per lot 15' 10' from all property lines 15' from any public building and any residential building not on the same lot 6' tall barrier extending 10' beyond the hives Face away from or parallel to nearest property lines Boston 2 hives per lot 10' Not allowed within front or side street yard --- Optional Face away from doors and/or windows if barrier is not present Seattle No more than 4 hives on lots less than 10,000 SF ' from any property line, unless 8 feet above grade of adjacent lot or separated by 6' high barrier --- Optional --- Page 11

9 Best Practices 1) Maintaining bee colonies in moveable-frame hives 2) Providing a constant water source 3) Hives should be kept as far away as possible from roads, sidewalks, and rights of way to not create a public nuisance 4) Hives should not be placed directly against a neighboring property unless a solid fence or dense plant barrier of six feet or higher forms the property boundary 5) Hives should be situated so that bees flight paths do not intersect human rights of way. In some cases, this might require erecting a fence or other barrier to redirect bees flight 6) Swarming should be prevented or minimized, and any hive with unusually defensive behavior or excessive swarming tendencies should be re-queened 7) Signs near sensitive uses should be posted to alert passersby to the presence of hives. Page 12

10 Proposed Draft Ordinance Zone/Land Use Requirements: To be allowed by right in any lot developed with a singlefamily residence Page 13

11 Proposed Draft Ordinance (cont.) Number of Hives: 1 hive per 3,000 square-feet Page 14

12 Proposed Draft Ordinance (cont.) Location/Placement Requirements: 1) Located on the rear ½ of the lot and set back 20 feet from street side yards on corner lots 2) Set back 5 feet from all other property lines (requirement may be waived with authorization from neighbors) 3) Hives must be screened so that the bees must fly over a six-foot barrier, which may be vegetative, before leaving the property Page 15

13 Proposed Draft Ordinance (cont.) Page 16

14 Proposed Draft Ordinance (cont.) Operational Requirements: All bee colonies shall be kept in inspectable hives consisting of moveable frames and combs. Hives must be kept in sound and usable condition at all times. Hive entrances shall face away from or parallel to the nearest property line(s) Page 17

15 Proposed Draft Ordinance (cont.) Operational Requirements: A water source for bees shall be provided at all times on the property where the bees are kept to discourage bee visitation at swimming pools, hose bibs and other water sources on adjacent public or private property. Hive maintenance materials or equipment must be stored in a sealed container or placed within a building or other bee-proof enclosure. If property located within 150 feet of a school (private or public), the beekeeper shall notify the school Page 18

16 Proposed Draft Ordinance (cont.) Permit Requirements: Beekeepers to obtain a permit from o The City s Planning Division Beekeeping Permit o The City s Business License Division Home Occupation Permit o If commercial activity is involved o The County of Orange Department of Agriculture Commissioner Page 19

17 Next Steps and Timeline Continue to draft Ordinance to reflect public input o September 11 General Plan & Zoning Ordinance Advisory Group o September 25 Planning Commission Public Hearing o October 17 City Council 1 st Reading o November 7 City Council 2 nd Reading Page 20

18 Contact Information Page 21