Article Contributed on: 11/18/2008 10:22:40 AM
City council members were buzzing over an ordinance that could lead to the introduction of more bees in Denver.
C.B. 548, which passed on a 10-2 vote Nov. 17, allows residents to keep up to two beehives in the rear third of their backyards. Previously, homeowners were required to apply for a variance to keep bees at their home.
Councilwoman
Peggy Lehmann, who represents District 5, introduced the measure at the behest of some of her constituents. Supporters believe the ordinance will help benefit both the environment and the economy, pointing to a recent study from Cornell University that estimates honeybees annually pollinate more than $14 billion worth of seeds and crops in the United States.
More than a dozen people showed up to voice their support for the measure, many of whom touted the potential environmental benefits honeybees can provide in an urban setting.
John Hershey, vice-president of Denver Urban Gardens, said the measure will ultimately benefit the 80-plus community gardens in the city.
"For everyone who wants to be healthy, promote sustainable living and local eating, beekeeping is a natural part of all those movements," Hershey said.
Councilman
Charlie Brown praised those who showed up to support the measure.
"You're not in it for the money, you're in it for the honey," Brown said. "We're not talking about corporate farming here. We're talking about individual, backyard, small-scale raising of bees."
But some weren't convinced the idea should fly. Councilwomen
Jeanne Faatz and
Marcia Johnson, who voted against the proposal, said the law could pose problems for residents allergic to bee stings.
Johnson said the ordinance could be dangerous if neighbors who suffer from bee sting allergies aren't notified of nearby beehives in their neighborhood.
"If we take away the right to be notified, are we as a city vulnerable to the charge that we've endangered someone?" Johnson asked.
City Attorney
Kerry Buckey, however, said the measure will not open up the city to potential lawsuits in the future.
The cities of Aurora, Englewood, Fort Collins, Lakewood and Littleton have similar ordinances in place. Nationwide, cities that allow beekeeping include San Francisco, Minneapolis and Seattle.
Honeybee Facts
-- Honeybees are European in origin and were brought to North America by the early settlers.
-- Honeybees are not aggressive by nature and will not sting unless protecting their hive from an intruderor are unduly provoked.
-- The practice of honey collection and beekeeping dates back to the stone-age, as evidenced by cave paintings.
SOURCE: BACK YARD BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION