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Randy Lamb

DUGS buzzing about upcoming gardening season

There was a buzz at Monday’s city council meeting as members considered the possibility of boosting the city’s bee population.

By Stephanie Waddell on March 22, 2016

There was a buzz at Monday’s city council meeting as members considered the possibility of boosting the city’s bee population.

On the agenda was the Downtown Urban Gardeners Society’s (DUGS’) application for a zoning amendment that would allow it to have an apiary (where honey bees are kept) at its community garden site on Seventh Avenue.

“This is going to be an exciting year ahead,” DUGS chair Randy Lamb told council in a presentation prior to the application coming forward.

Lamb’s presentation focused on the many activities for the year ahead, from the upcoming sign-up for garden plots in the summer to work in composting and more. However, it was the proposal for an apiary that drew the most discussion among council.

As Lamb outlined, DUGS would like to have two hives on the site. That could see honey produced and help expand vegetation and berry production.

Beekeeping, he noted, is becoming more common in urban areas including Vancouver, where it’s part of that city’s vision to become more sustainable.

The plans for DUGS would see two stacked wooden structures – similar to pallets – each able to have approximately 20,000 bees.

The southwest corner of the downtown gardens where the apiary will be located would feature a fence, with the hives set back three metres from the fence.

“The flight path would be angled southeast and would lead upwards from the top of the 1.8 m-high fence enclosure,” it was noted in a report to council presented by planning manager Pat Ross.

City planner Erica Beasley also addressed council on it, noting honey bees tend to be fairly docile in nature.

They follow a “pretty strict diet,” she said, adding they generally aren’t attracted to compost and the like.

“Honey bees are quite different from wasps,” she said.

It’s not anticipated bees would cross the fence into neighbouring yards.

Honey produced by the bees would be available to DUGS members and provided to the Whitehorse Food Bank.

Ross noted in his report to council the proposal fits with the city’s Official Community Plan as well as the sustainability plan by providing for local food production.

The proposed zoning change would allow for an agricultural use – limited to an apiary – on the DUGS site, which is currently zoned as Environmental Protection.

It’s proposed the city would put restrictions on the apiary similar to those in Vancouver, including:

• setting a maximum of two hives;

• that the hives be a minimum of three metres away from neighbouring properties;

• that there be a secure enclosure at least 1.8 m high and made from material that does not create a visual barrier; and

• a sign be posted providing contact information for the beekeeper and/or a representative in case of concerns.

An additional provision would help address potential issues around bears.

“Honey is a potential bear attractant warranting safety considerations,” Ross stated in his report.

“The applicant would be required to consult with the Whitehorse Bear Working Group to ensure that best practices are followed.”

Council will vote on whether to go ahead with first reading on the zoning amendment next week.

If that’s approved, a public hearing on the proposal would be held at council’s April 25 meeting.

A staff report on the hearing would then come forward May 2, with council expected to vote on second and third readings May 9.

It’s also proposed that the zoning amendment application fee be granted back to DUGS, as it’s a non-profit organization, with the grant coming from council’s donation account. Council will also vote on that next week.

Comments (2)

Up 0 Down 0

Norman Webster on May 30, 2016 at 11:43 am

We'd be willing to support an apiary on our under utilized property in Deep Creek.
Please contact us at sjwebster29@gmail.com

Up 5 Down 0

yukon56 on Mar 22, 2016 at 5:49 pm

Good on ya

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