PC 100814 - Laserfiche WebLink

c. Actions of the Zoning Administrator No discussion was held or action taken. d. Matters for Commission's Information 1. Initiation of staff work on an amendment to the Pleasanton Municipal Code to consider allowing small -scale beekeeping in residential zoning districts. Natalie Amos presented the staff report and indicated that staff's memo is simply to inform the Planning Commission of staff's intent to come up with a beekeeping ordinance in residentially - zoned districts within the City. She added that staff is just in the beginning stages of its research and is here tonight to see if the Commissioners have any specific questions they want staff to look into in terms of where beekeeping might be best located specific to residential districts within the City. She noted that the City already allows for a Conditional Use Permit for apiaries in agricultural land, and staff is looking into the possibility of allowing it on a smaller scale in One - Family and Multiple - Family Residential Districts. Chair O'Connor stated that staff has provided the Commission with a list of things to look at and is inquiring if there is anything the Commissioners wanted to add to that. He indicated that the Commissioners may also ask questions, but discussion will not take place until the item comes back to the Commission as a public hearing. Commissioner Balch inquired if staff had a PowerPoint presentation Mr. Amos replied that there is no PowerPoint presentation at this time since the purpose of tonight's meeting is only to inform the Commission about where staff is in the process and what the Commission may see at an upcoming Commission hearing. Commissioner Ritter stated that he liked the spreadsheet comparisons and would like to see more of that in the Tri- Valley area. He indicated that it is good to see what other California cities and other states are doing in terms of beekeeping and how Pleasanton compares with them, but it would also be helpful to be able to compare with what other cities around the Pleasanton area are doing. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED. David Browne thanked the Commission for the time and opportunity to talk about potentially allowing residential beekeeping as a hobby in Pleasanton. He stated that he had some training in beekeeping and kept bees in his house in Pleasanton from March to July, at which time he found out that beekeeping is not allowed in Pleasanton. He indicated that he then moved his beehives to Castro Valley, and he is now looking into the process of maybe having the Pleasanton Municipal Code (PMC) amended to allow beekeeping. Mr. Browne stated that there is a very deep history of beekeeping in the United States that goes as far back as the colonial days when honeybees were first imported from Europe. He indicated that certain strains of European honeybees are the most common in the United States and are also used for commercial pollination. He noted that the PMC allows vegetables and fruits to be grown in residential areas; however, these require honeybees for pollination. He indicated that honeybees are incredibly important to the food supply and that roughly one -third of food that is consumed is directly dependent upon pollination by honeybees. He noted that colony collapse PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, October 8, 2014 Page 4 of 7