There is certainly “a buzz” around the Downtown Urban Gardeners Society (DUGS) plans for an apiary, says Mayor Dan Curtis.

Curtis made the comment following a public hearing at Monday’s council meeting over a zoning amendment which would allow the bee-keeping operation.

Fifteen written submissions on the initiative came into the city ahead of a public hearing, with 14 of those expressing support.

The only other letter highlighted concerns, but also noted overall support for the project, said Jeff O’Farrell, the city’s manager of legislative services.

DUGS is applying for a zoning amendment that would allow it to have two hives at its downtown site, housing 20,000 bees in the south-west corner of its Seventh Avenue community gardens site.

A 1.8-metre-high fence would be built around the apiary with the hives a minimum of three metres from the fence.

Council passed first reading of the zoning change last month, spurring last night’s required public hearing prior to second and third readings.

DUGS president Randy Lamb was the only person to appear before council at the hearing.

There, he reviewed the group’s plans to produce honey that would be available to DUGS members and the Whitehorse Food Bank.

He also outlined the work the group has done since last month in an effort to inform the public about the initiative and address issues anyone had.

A brochure was distributed throughout the neighbourhood and the group hosted a public open house which saw only one resident attend.

That neighbour, Lamb said, had a couple of questions around the number of hives proposed and the potential for the bees to get into compost and such and possible interactions with bees she has in her yard.

A similar question came from Pat McInroy of P&M Recycling, who contacted DUGS about the possibility of the bees being attracted to recyclables. In the past, yellow jackets have been an issue for the recycling processor, Lamb acknowledged.

He then tackled the concerns head-on, noting that honey bees are typically docile creatures which stay close to their hives and are not attracted to compost and waste.

Rather, they are after dandelions, sweet clover and other such plant life – or weeds, depending on how one looks at them.

It’s anticipated they would likely stay in the DUGS space for the most part and aren’t likely to interact with neighbouring bees.

Lamb noted those that did raise concerns appeared to be satisfied with the plans for the apiary.

A number of conditions such as the fence and sign posting that would provide contact information for anyone concerned about the bees are also proposed as part of the zoning change.

Lamb said DUGS also attended an open house hosted by Wild Wise Yukon and the Whitehorse Bear Working Group to look at bear safety at the apiary.

Overall, Lamb said, most people DUGS has spoken with support the apiary, with the group working to address the concerns that have come forward.

Among those who have provided their support is the Downtown Residents Association, he pointed out.

“People are very excited (about it),” he said.

A report on the public hearing will come forward to council next week, with members expected to vote on the final two readings of the bylaw at its May 9 meeting.