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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,October 18,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> ROLL CALL <br /> The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: <br /> Commissioners Chris Bollis,Bob Erickson,Matt Gettman,Jon Ressler,and Dennis Libby. Chair Scott <br /> Kirchner and Commissioner Mark McCutcheon were absent.Representing Staff were Community <br /> Development Director Jeremy Barnhart and City Planner Laura Oakden. <br /> Vice Chair Ressler called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.,followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. <br /> APPROVAL OF AGENDA <br /> Libby moved,Bollis seconded,to approve the Agenda.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. <br /> APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 20,2021 <br /> Gettman moved,Bollis seconded,to approve the Minutes of the Orono Planning Commission <br /> meeting of September 20,2021 as submitted.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. <br /> PUBLIC HEARINGS <br /> 1. LA21-000065 CITY OF ORONO PROPOSES A TEXT AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE <br /> CHAPTER 78-ZONING REGULATIONS RELATED TO ANIMAL UNITS. (STAFF: <br /> LAURA OAKDEN) <br /> Staff presented a summary packet of information. City Planner Oakden stated the City proposes a text <br /> amendment to animal units to include honeybee hives;the City regulates honeybees under farm animals <br /> and animal units has not yet been established. Farm animals, other than horses,require a minimum of 2 <br /> acres of land and the number of farm animals allowed is based on the acreage of the property and <br /> corresponding animal units. Typically animal units are determined by the weight of the animal. <br /> Honeybees are not regulated by weight but by number of hives.After research it was found that ranges <br /> fall within 1-6 hives/animal unit for the keeping of residential honeybees. Staff recommends 6 honeybee <br /> hives as one animal unit. <br /> The Commissioners asked clarifying questions of Ms. Oakden,finding out that residents have called the <br /> City to find out how many hives they can have and Staff has been unable to advise in that way. They <br /> learned that honeybees are already allowed in the City Code as an allowed farm animal,but it does not <br /> define a number. <br /> Vice Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 6:10 p.m. <br /> Vice Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 6:10 p.m. <br /> Bollis clarified it is not people opposed to having bees but rather people who want to follow the law and <br /> regulations. He is opposed to putting a unit number on it for Rural Residential(RR)districts because the <br /> person managing the bees knows more than the Planning Commission as to how many units they can <br /> have on their property.He thinks Conditional Use Permits (CUPs)can be handled on a case-by-case basis <br /> as there is plenty of regulation already on it. Bollis noted people may start out with 12 hives in a year and <br /> end up with 2 surviving. If they are targeting 6 hives they should at least double that number to allow for <br /> Page 1 of 3 <br />