Hamakua CDP Feedback from Debbie Chang

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adison. Wisconsin prides itself on being a very progressive, liberal, modern city. Until recently, there was no ordinance prohibiting beekeeping within the city, although the zoning depart- ment did have "guidelines." Sometimes these -,uidelines were used to make people belie%c beekeeping was not allowed in the city. and sometimes the guidelines were used to the advantage of the beekeeper when neighbors complained. One typical guideline stated that no more than two hives could be kept on one lot. What about nucleus hives? What about freshly captured swarms'? Another guideline required that any hive be 70' away from buildings on the neighbor's lot. Even a garage? Even a shed'?? Since guidelines are not ordinances, they were mostly ignored by those of us with bees, but they did make us nervous. When our local club was firmed early in 2009, it was clear that a city beekeeping or- dinance was in the making. Luckily for us. it took the city two years to begin serious work on it. In that time, a eery diplomatic and persuasive new beekeeper, Michael Gourlic, joined our group. lie very much wanted to keep bees legally in his back yard. When he saw the tentative city sug- gestions for an ordinance, he nearly tainted. Michael took it upon himself. in the name of urban beekeepers and With the blessing ofour club. to negotiate with the city. 11is first question was. "Where in the world did the rules in this ordinance conte from'"' The head of zoning didn't know. really. lie looked on the internet. got some sample or- dinances. and copied them. When our club asked, "Where in the world did these zoning rules come front?" Michael replied, "Well, in other cities, bee- keepers didn't get involved very early, or if they did, they simply bowed to the in- cvitable. Wc're not doing that." Michael's next question to the zoning de- partment was, "Is this ordinance being de- signed to reduce complaints about bees?' �RDINANCE� The answer was. "Definitely not." Rather. Madison is making an effort to support and promote the practice of urban agriculture. The usual method of terming any new or- dinance is to draft a proposed document, and sec what public reaction is. Our head of zoning was very glad to have expert, bee- keeper input and suggestions, and was happy to work with a person representing our entire beekeeping club. He suggested that we get consensus among ourselves and present him with our best suggestions. Michael got busy and formed a commit- tee. There are people in Madison who have been keeping quite a number of beehives in their tiny, odd shaped yards for years, with no problems. They knew what they wanted to see in an ordinance, and they put their heads together to hammer out guidelines by JEANNE HANSEN Madison, Wisconsin that would promote urban beekeeping in a responsible manner. Michael had many be- hind -the -scenes discussions with the head of zoning, and with alders. He went before the Community Gardens Committee, the Sustainable Design and Energy Committee. the Board of Health, and the Planning Com- mission, before the ordinance was passed by the City Common Council. All parties shared a desire to have a safe and responsi- ble ordinance respectful of residents and the ecology. There are five key elements in Madison's new ordinance. (see the figure). I) Hives can be as close as 10 ft to a sidewalk, as long as the sidewalk is shielded by a fence or vegetation. 2) Hives can be as close as 25 ft to a neighbor's principal building, usually the house, again as long as they are (left to right) Alder Satya Rhodes -Conway, ordinance sponsor, Mike Gourlie, club representative, and Matt Tucker, Madison's Zoning Ad- ministrator. May 2012 447