For Immediate Release: November 21, 2008
COUNCILMAN GARCIA SUPPORTS THE KEEPING OF DOMESTIC HONEY BEES
City Council Approves Change in 10-2 Vote.
The language amendment regarding the Keeping of Honey Bees, Revised Municipal Code §59-87(b)(2)c was approved after a public hearing before the Denver City Council on Monday, November 17, 2008.
Councilman Garcia surveyed his constituency in the weeks preceding the vote and found that a great number of Northwest Denver residents supported the zoning change allowing hobbyist beekeeping. Other support from the environmental community was also heard to allow the keeping of domestic honey bees in residential zone districts in Denver.
The issue brought forth to light concerns that the general population are unaware of such as: honey bees are an important but fragile part of our ecosystem; bees are critical pollinators of urban gardens and agriculture (one-third of our food supply is pollinated by bees and a mysterious and potentially catastrophic ecological phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is reducing the bee population to dangerous levels.
Despite the important ecological balance that honey bees bring to our human race, the amendment which allows keeping of domestic bees in Denver was a zoning amendment and was approved with the following conditions:
Councilman Garcia spoke in favor of the ordinance and felt that many beekeepers exist in Denver today and this zoning change would legalize the already established practice. The ordinance change allows a maximum of two (2) hives of “domestic honey bees” to the list of specific accessory uses allowed for residential land uses in the following zone districts.
RS-4 R-2-A R-4 MS-1
R-O R-2-B R-4-X MS-2
R-1 R-3 R-MU-20 MS-3
In addition, the Department of Environmental Health will be responsible for generating regulations related to beekeeping and to enforce the quality practices of maintaining healthy hives in our city.
The promulgation of these rules will be developed in 2009 and will include neighborhood notices requesting their participation. Councilman says, “the rulemaking process will ensure that beekeeping is not neglected and is treated with equality among other codes and regulation enforced by city inspectors. Garcia adds, poorly maintained beehives will not be allowed.”
The approval of this zoning amendment now allows domestic beekeeping as a “use by right” in residential zone districts throughout the city.
For further information, please consult my website www.denvergov.org/rickgarcia or contact my office at 303-458-4792.
Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative announces
Neighborhoods Selected for Launch of Program
Berkeley/Tennyson Street Corridor one of five selected
Councilman Garcia is pleased to announce the City’s new Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative has selected the Berkeley/Tennyson Corridor as a neighborhood to be a pilot participant in this program.
On Thursday, May 1, Councilman Garcia along with other members of Council and the Mayor celebrated at a kick off event announcing the five neighborhood pilots. Those selected include Morrison Road, Welton Street Corridor, The Bluebird District, Berkeley/Tennyson Street Corridor and Cherry Creek North. The pilots cover a wide array and geographically diverse neighborhood districts that showcase different applications of the DNMI Program. Criteria used for the selection included: defined geographic area; leverage; investment; prototype; opportunity; and neighborhood engagement. With the recent attention that’s been given to the Berkeley/Tennyson Street corridor including bond funds approved by the voters for a Tennyson Streetscape project and the potential formation of a Tennyson Street Maintenance Improvement District, this area was an ideal candidate for the program.
The goal is to develop strong public-private partnerships and build long lasting relationships that connect neighborhoods with businesses. Through the initiative, Office of Economic Development will annually select 2-5 districts for participation. District development plans will outline which resources-ranging from technical assistance to small business lending, streetscape improvements and many others—can be deployed to effect meaningful change in the district. Availability of resources will vary, depending on the district’s stage of development . Development plans will be reviewed annually.
The Councilman has been personally involved in bringing this concept to fruition because he feels that our neighborhood business districts have been underutilized assets of the city. He saw an opportunity to raise the bar in terms of how the city should work with small business, as vital parts of neighborhood development and the NMPI was born. Meanwhile, the OED will continue to provide services and resources to other district and commercial areas as well.