West University Place will continue its public conversation about the future of beehives in the city at a community meeting from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday (July 10) in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 3800 University Blvd. — in anticipation of possible City Council action on the matter on July 22.
Harrison Rogers, a Texas Certified Master Beekeeper and area director of the Texas Beekeeper’s Association, and Nicole Buergers, a professional urban beekeeper and founder of Bee2Bee Honey Collective, will offer their expertise.
The public will have a chance to ask questions and voice their opinions at the meeting. Public comments will also be taken in writing through 5:30 p.m. July 15 by emailing cchew@westutx.gov or by mailing or dropping them off at the Public Works Department, 3826 Amherst St.
The session comes after a complaint from a resident about a neighbor’s honey-producing beehive that is close to their shared property line, and presentation by that resident to City Council on June 24 of a draft ordinance to ban urban beehives in the city.
West University currently allows beekeeping without restriction.
The city attorney drafted a second ordinance, based on other cities’ experiences in handling urban beekeeping, that would continue to allow beekeeping but with a host of screening and setback requirements.
Councilmembers agreed that there should be more public discussion on the issue before they considered any regulation.
For more on this story, read the West University Counciltable in July’s issue of Bellaire-West University Essentials Magazine
Facebook Comments