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comment letters from a resident who is allergic to bees and concerned about the safety <br />of hives and a resident who is supportive of the changes (Attachment 4). These <br />comments were submitted after thorough public notification of these potential changes <br />through Next Door, social media and the Redwood City Voice blog, in addition to <br />standard newspaper notification. Information on the ordinance was also available on the <br />City’s website. <br /> <br />At their meeting of April 5, 2016, the Planning Commission had a robust discussion of <br />the potential requirements and impacts on neighboring residents. Safety and <br />appropriate setbacks and the number of hives on a per site basis were discussed. <br />Generally, residents interested in beekeeping stated that multiple hives are often <br />necessary for backyard beehives in case one of the hives fails. Appropriate hive <br />setbacks were discussed, as well as the challenge of enforcement when bees occur <br />naturally in the environment and also construct their own “natural” hives. <br /> <br />Planning Commission concurred with staff recommendation that the hive setback be <br />reduced to 25 ft. from adjacent dwellings. The code is also amended to limit the number <br />of hives that may be located on properties of 3,000 sq. ft. or less. Nuisance language <br />was further clarified for enforcement purposes. Planning and Code Enforcement staff <br />has coordinated on this language and the recommended ordinance is in Attachment 1. <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVES <br />1. Make changes to the proposed Redwood City Code amendments. <br />2. Reject the proposed Redwood City Code amendments. <br /> <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />No fiscal impact is expected with these amendments. <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW <br />It can be seen with certainty that this project does not have the potential to create a <br />significant impact. Topics evaluated by CEQA include: Aesthetics, Agricultural and <br />Forestry Resources, Air Quality, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Biological, Cultural <br />and Mineral Resources, Geology, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and <br />Water Quality, Land Use and Planning, Noise, Population and Housing, Public Services <br />and Recreation, Transportation and Traffic, and Utilities and Service Systems. The <br />project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as the <br />proposed amendments will not significantly impact the environment. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />7.A. - Page 2