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Performance Standards <br /> The following are the recommended performance standards for beekeeping, followed by a <br /> brief justification. <br /> Beekeeping shall only be allowed when the following regulations are met <br /> A. Hives shall only be allowed and maintained on land in the A zoning district, on <br /> properties with detached, single-family homes located in a R-1 zoning district and <br /> RM zoning district, and properties with detached, single-family homes located in the <br /> Downtown Specific Plan Area. <br /> Staff analysis: Staff proposes that beekeeping for the A zoning district be amended <br /> from allowing apiaries as a conditional use to allowing up to 10 hives as a permitted <br /> use. The A zoning district does not currently limit the number of hives allowed, nor are <br /> there performance standards; only a conditional use permit is required. Currently, a <br /> conditional use permit for beekeeping would require review and approval by the <br /> Planning Commission; however, each review would be on a case-by-case basis with no <br /> PMC performance standards. Staff is proposing that the A zoning district be amended <br /> to allow beekeeping as a permitted use for a limited number of hives, so long as the <br /> performance standards are met, given that A zoned land typically has a minimum lot <br /> size of 5 acres, which offers a large buffer to adjacent properties that may have <br /> residential zoning designations, and pollination by bees is essential for many <br /> agricultural activities that occur in the A zoning district. <br /> Staff is proposing that beekeeping be a permitted use for up to two hives only on <br /> properties with detached, single-family homes located in an R-1 zoning district, RM <br /> zoning district, and detached, single-family homes located in the Downtown Specific <br /> Plan Area, no matter the zoning designation. Staff recommends limiting beekeeping to <br /> properties with detached, single-family homes due to concerns regarding keeping bees <br /> on properties, such as apartments or condominiums, which may not have sufficient <br /> open space to provide an adequate buffer to neighboring properties, and accommodate <br /> the physical features that are required for safe beekeeping. Furthermore, staff is not <br /> proposing a minimum lot size in order to keep bees; however, staff is proposing <br /> setbacks for hives (please see subsection C below) that would be more effective in <br /> reducing bee-related nuisances than a minimum lot size <br /> B. In the R-1 zoning district, RM zoning district, or Downtown Specific Plan Area <br /> zoning district, the beekeeper shall reside at the property where the hive is located. <br /> Staff analysis: In residential districts or in Downtown, staff is proposing that the <br /> beekeeper reside at the property where the beehives are kept in order to continuously <br /> monitor bee activity. Due to the open, agricultural nature of A-zoned land and because <br /> there are often no residences on such properties, staff is not recommending a <br /> requirement that the beekeeper reside on A zoned land. <br /> Page 5 of 9 <br />