Need advice/suggestions

[Roadstar]

Good morning, and Happy Easter!

My wife and I are going to be applying to our County Zoning Board for a special use permit to allow us to keep our bees (2 hives) on our large lot that is currently zoned for residential use. We are surrounded by city property, within 200' on all sides, and the city does allow beekeeping, with no restrictions, on city property zoned residential.

We feel we have a good case to allow the special use permit, but we wanted to draw on the vast collective knowledge of the more experienced Beekeepers on this forum for advice. What we would like to know is if anyone here as went through such a process in the past?

We are active members of our local Beekeeping Organization, and member of the Illinois State Beekeepers Association. I am sure we can get the support of many of our local Beekeepers to present sound evidence at the public hearing, which will be held on our property. We have been advised by several "politically connected" folks in our area that we should indeed proceed with this permit application, as they feel it will be granted.

This all came about because of one excessively meddling neighbor, who's hobby is, frankly, drinking to excess and causing problems for others. We discussed our proposal to keep bees with said neighbor, and he exhibited no problems, then proceeded to report us to the county. (We were misinformed by the County last fall that beekeeping was allowed on our property, but now they demand a special use permit.....go figure!)

Thank you very much for any advice or suggestion which will help us reach a postitive outcome in this matter. Also, thank you to Bee Source for providing a valuable resource for Beekeepers everywhere!

Kevin & Angie
Troy, IL

[Ravenseye]

Happy Easter Roadstar,

First, I would ask myself if prevailing over the County Zoning Board is enough to make me happy and keep the peace with my neighbor. Winning the bee battle but creating a mess with your neighbor may not be the most desirable long term solution. Obviously, you're the only one who can make that decision. That being said, I believe you need to make the case that your intent is to actively manage your bees, at a reasonable distance from neighbors and passers-by, that you will take all reasonable precautions to prevent swarms (people get jiggy just hearing that word), that you do not intend to have a commercial operation and that you will be open to addressing any and all concerns. You are a beekeeper....not a hobbyist who likes to keep bees. Be prepared to answer questions that seem obvious to beekeepers like "How do we know they're not killer bees" or "How many bees do you intend to keep" (the answer to which you already stated....2 hives). In the end, if you have a chance, it'll be based quite a bit on your behavior and attitude.

[Roadstar]

Very sound advice, thank you so much for taking the time to respond. As far the the neighbor in question, everyone in our area has gone beyond what is reasonable to develop a positive, "neighborly" relationship with this person, but it is just in his nature to meddle and try to control everything and everyone around him. Trust me, the problem is not anyone else in the neighborhood, or the presence of Bees, but the attitude and disposition of the neighbor himself. :-)

[alpha6]

My question is that if beekeeping is allowed, why is a special use permit required? I would check with the state ag laws and see if there are provisions that protect farmers against the county or city from passing legislation that inhibits, blocks or prevents an individual from farming. If bee keeping is allowed then a special use permit is not required and you shouldn't have to go through the procedure. Good luck.

[Roadstar]

Good question alpha6, thank you for your response. We live just outside the city limits, where a total of 8 houses were never annexed into the city. Basically, we are surrounded on all sides by city residential areas. The city allows beekeeping, but the County Zoning says you have to be zoned agricultural to keep bees. The city statute allows beekeeping in residentially zoned areas inside the city limits, and their statute supercededs the county zoning statute. Our argument is that these properties in the city limits can keep bees, and they would be as close as 150' to our property. To us, it makes no sense. There are many other towns around us that are far more densly populated, and in the same county as us, that allow beekeeping in residential areas, and I have talked with their community resource officers, and they report that they have no complaints about bees, or beekeepers. We are just standing up for what we think is fair and just, and trying to pave the way for others in the future. If we lose, we have a plan to move our bees to an area where beekeeping is permitted. This process requires a fee of $300, so we are putting our money up for what we think is fair and just, not just for us, but future beekeepers. It's the right thing to do, IMO.

[Bsweet]

Roadstar, You might read the county reg. real close, it might be for commercial operations. Do county residents need a special use permit to keep chickens or a garden? Jim

[Acebird]

Roadstar, You might read the county reg. real close, it might be for commercial operations. Do county residents need a special use permit to keep chickens or a garden?

It does seem odd that you would need a permit for the county. It would make more sense that you would need it for the city. We have the only permit in our city for chickens (they are grandfathered in). Each year we have to renew the permit. We have to explain to the counter people what it is so they can take our $25.