7.4. SR 05-21-2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Elk Memorandum River To: Planning Department From: Dan Block, Police Dept Date: 03-02-18 Subject: Site Plan Review - February* 2018 The department listed above has reviewed the application listed below and has the following comments: Case #OA 18-04, Ordinance Amendment - Beekeeping 1. No concerns or issues with the application as proposed. I have safety concerns with keeping honey bee hives in residential areas less than 1 acre. Accepted norms are 1 hive per acre of fertile, blooming land is the minimum area needed for healthy hives. If you allow up to 3 hives (60,000 to 240,000) of honey bees on less than an acre of land the bees will roam far and wide to find suitable plants, flowers and shrubs. If 2 residents in the same neighborhood have hives, you've just doubled the size of the area needed for sustainability. 2. Another concern is the amount of people that are allergic to honey bee venom. If honey bees are allowed on city lots of less than one acre you will have a high density neighborhood of people in close proximity to the hives. The honey bees have no borders, and since Elk River also promotes walking and biking in town, you also have a high volume of transient traffic in neighborhoods. The danger to the general public will increase, as will the danger to First Responders, mail and paper carriers, and visitors to our city. Why would we want to make our city less safe for its residents, First Responders, and visitors? Lastly, honey bees are typically classified as agricultural an=imals. You already opened the door by allowing chickens in residential areas. What will happen if you allow bees? What is next? Sheep, goats, rabbits, cows, and horses are also agricultural animals. If the city gets a few calls from residents asking to keep these animals on residential lots how do you say `no'? F00ERE0 sr N, AfURE