11-22-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 8, 2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT — Continued honeybees have a symbiotic relationship to other animals and should not be counted towards the animal unit totals. The Planning Commission also noted wetlands need to be counted towards the total acreage for honeybees, they recommended removing honeybees from the definition of farm animals so it is not counted towards property animal units, and is only listed as a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) within the lakeshore districts. The Planning Commission suggested increasing the limit up to 12 hives per acre and voted 5-0 on a motion to amend City Code to remove honeybees from the listed defined farm animals and to list honeybees as a CUP in the lakeshore zoning districts allowing up to 12 hives. Ms. Oakden noted that Staff does not support the Planning Commission's recommendation in not listing honeybees as farm animals and regulating them as a conditional use in the lake district has an effect of prohibiting them in the rural district because they are no longer listed as a permitted animal. Staff has amended the recommendation to have six hives equal one animal unit but to also allow wetlands to count toward the total land area of honeybee calculations and to allow honeybee animals units to be exclusive and not count toward the animal unit totals of the property. Mayor Walsh asked why they are talking about the issue and what other communities are doing. Ms. Oakden noted Staff has been fielding more honeybee questions for beekeeping on properties. Staff does not have guidance within the Code except to say if they hit the minimum two acre land size and are in the right zoning district people can have them. They are listed as farm animals which are limited based on animal units. Mayor Walsh said people could always come in for a variance with less than two acres. Seals asked if the Councilmembers really consider a honeybee as a farm animal. The City Council discussed various options and opinions. Oakden showed a document with various other cities in the area and their regulations, noting some cities don't have anything in their code and others allow it in agricultural or rural districts. The Councilmembers agreed that it is reasonable to define an animal unit as 6 hives per acre to start with and if people need more the City Council can amend that number at a later time. Johnson clarified the bee units are a separate calculation than any other animal units and it was not as clear in writing. Oakden noted she will work with Attorney Mattick to add language to clarify that honeybees will standalone and not take away from any other animal unit on a property. Attorney Mattick noted they will draft the language and bring it before the City Council at their next meeting. Page 2 of 6