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<br />The Elk River Vision <br />A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional <br />service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity <br />Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br />To <br />Planning Commission <br />Item Number <br />4.3 <br />Agenda Section <br />Public Hearing <br />Meeting Date <br />April 24, 2018 <br />Prepared by <br />Zack Carlton, Planning Manager <br />Item Description <br />City of Elk River - Ordinance Amendment <br />(Continued from 3-27-2018) <br /> Ordinance Amendment relating to beekeeping, <br />Case No. OA 18-04 <br />Reviewed by <br /> <br />Reviewed by <br /> <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Recommend, by motion, approval of an ordinance amendment adding regulations specific to the keeping <br />of honey bees. <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />The Commission reviewed this item during their March 27, 2018, regular meeting. The Commission <br />expressed a number of concerns related to the proposal and directed staff to update the ordinance and <br />bring it back for further consideration and discussion. <br /> <br />Staff has made the following changes based on direction received during the meeting: <br /> The minimum lot size for the keeping of honey bees has been increased to 1 acre. The ordinance <br />not states that any residential parcel at least one acre in size can house up to 6 colonies. <br />o Residential parcels greater than 5 acres are not limited in the number of hives they can have. <br />o Due to the increase in minimum lot size a density (hives/square mile) regulation was not <br />explored. <br /> The front yard setback has been set at 35 feet to account for homes on larger lots not being <br />constructed at the minimum front yard setback. <br /> The requirement to install a fence around the hives has been removed. The Commission did not <br />feel fencing a hive on large lots was necessary. <br />o Flyaway barriers are still required when a hive is within 25 feet of a property line. <br /> The permit section has been amended to state that a permit allowing beekeeping will only be <br />issued if the applicant has completed training from an accredited institution. <br />o The permit fee will be set at $75 to account for administrative and site inspection costs. The <br />reduction is not needed as a permit will not be issued without having completed an accredited <br />training program. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br />None <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> Planning Commission Packet dated March 27, 2018 <br /> Amended Beekeeping Ordinance