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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.11.25 Planning MinutesCITY OF FARMINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING February 11, 2025 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair Rotty at 7:00pm Members Present: Rotty, Baerg, Windschitl, Snobeck, Tesky Members Absent: None Staff Present: Tony Wippler, Planning Manager Jared Johnson, Planning Coordinator 1.1 Election of Officers MOTION by Windschitl, second by Tesky to nominate Commissioner Rotty as Chair, Accepted by Rotty. MOTION by Rotty, second by Windschitl to nominate Commissioner Tesky as Vice Chair, Accepted by Tesky. 1.2 Appointments to committees Empire/Farmington Planning Advisory Committee (EFPAC)- Windschitl Castle Rock Discussion Group – Tesky Eureka Farmington Planning Group – Snobeck MUSA Review Committee – Rotty and Baerg MOTION by Snobeck, second by Tesky to assign as agreed. APIF MOTION CARRIED 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION by Windschitl, second by Snobeck to approve minutes of Planning Commission for January 14th, 2025, regular meeting. APIF, MOTION CARRIED 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS NONE 4. DISCUSSION Potential Beekeeping Ordinance – Planning Coordinator Johnson presented how surrounding cities ordinances were outlined as well as common requirements. • Permit Process: Annual permit reviewed by staff. • Zoning: Allowed in Agricultural and Single-Family Residential Districts. • Colony Density: Number of colonies allowed depends on lot size. Lots less than 0.5 acres can have a maximum of two colonies. Majority of single-family lots in Farmington are less than 0.5 acres. • Colony Location: Only allowed in rear yard. • Setbacks: Varies from 10 feet to 20 feet from any lot line. Rosemount allows a minimum of 10 feet and Eagan has a minimum of 30 feet from an adjacent dwelling unit, deck, patio, swimming pool, or other outdoor living space. • Construction/Equipment: Colonies shall be kept in hives with removable frames and kept in good condition. Materials such as wax comb shall be promptly removed from the site to prevent robbing by other bees. Unused equipment shall be secured or stored indoors. • Barrier/Screening: If a hive is kept within 25 feet of a lot line, a flyway barrier is required in between the hive and the lot line of at least 6 feet in height consisting of a wall, fence, or dense vegetation. Flyway barriers force the bees to fly upwards out of the hive. • Living Conditions: Each hive or colony shall be provided a convenient source of water. Hives shall be continuously managed to provide adequate and healthy living spaces to prevent swarming. • Behavior: If a colony exhibits aggressive behavior, the beekeeper shall promptly determine the cause and correct it. This includes requeening. • Nucleus Colony: For each colony allowed, there may be one nucleus colony in a hive. • Beekeeper Education: Applicants must demonstrate they have completed a full course on beekeeping. • Other Requirements: Fruit trees and other flowering trees may not be sprayed while in full bloom with any substance harmful to bees. If the beekeeper removes a swarm of bees from an undesirable location in the city, they shall be allowed to temporarily house the swarm for no more than 30 days. • Inspection: The city may inspect the property at any reasonable time to determine compliance with the ordinance. • Termination: Permits will terminate if expired, a transfer of ownership of the property, if a violation of the ordinance/permit requirements is occurring, or a public nuisance is declared. Commissioner Tesky asked regarding enforcement, would it be complaint based or like a yearly inspection? Planning Coordinator Johnson thought it would be complaint based and would also have annual permits so they would do a yearly inspection as well. Commissioner Tesky then asked if there would be education as well? Planning Coordinator Johnson did state that it would be a part of it. Commissioner Windschitl stated he liked the setbacks that Eagan was using. Commissioner Windschitl asked if the permit holder declined to allow them to check on compliance would they terminate the permit? Planning Manager Wippler stated that like a chicken permit they can terminate permits if applicants fail to comply. Chair Rotty recommended that they do put something in the permit that would allow for that. Commissioner Snobeck inquired about recommended fees, Planning Manager Wippler stated they would have a fee and it could be similar to the chicken permit fee. Commissioner Snobeck also said he did like how Eagan’s ordinance was specific. Snobeck then asked about the process for handling grievances? Planning Coordinator Johnson stated they would take complaints and go out to site to determine if due to hive or a natural environment. Planning Manager Wippler stated that we will work with the city’s Legal Council to establish guidelines in ordinance for enforcement. Commissioner Baerg asked regarding the fruit & flowering trees being treated, is it within the property or on surrounding properties? Planning Coordinator Johnson stated it would be on the property of the hive. Commissioner Baerg asked how many permits the other cities have had? Planning Coordinator Johson said he has only heard from Lakeville and they have issued one since they started in 2017. Chair Rotty asked how the process would go. Planning Coordinator Johnson thought it would be like a chicken permit, city staff review the application, then send out notification to neighbors but no public hearing would be required. Chair Rotty recommended commission follows same process and that there is some type of education required in the ordinance. He asked if they would include all zoning districts? Planning Coordinator Johnson suggested only allowing in zoning districts that have single family uses. Chair Rotty asked who would determine what aggressive behaviors are? Planning Manager Wippler said that would come from the neighbors’ complaints. Chair Rotty asked about the barriers. Planning Coordinator Johnson suggested doing the barrier and having coverage the full length of lot line. The commission suggested maybe 10ft in length and 6ft high. Chair Rotty asked if the hives are year-round? Commissioner Baerg said from personal experience the bees do hibernate in the winter; the hive has to be brought in from outside. Commissioner Windschitl recommended something like Minnesota Beekeepers Association could be good resource for training. Commissioner Baerg also shared that if going to sell honey the USDA would inspect. 4.2 Open meeting law- Planning Manager Wippler shared a packet from the League of Minnesota Cities overviewing the open meeting laws. • Prohibits actions from being taken at a secret meeting where the interested public cannot be fully informed of the decisions of public bodies or detect improper influences. • Ensures the public’s right to be informed. • Gives the public an opportunity to present its views. • Avoid gathering in a quorum (this commission would be 3 or more) if present at a social gathering, do not discuss, decide or receive city business • Avoid serial discussions (discussions of less than quorum) avoid phone calls, texts, and social media posts. • There are some exceptions to the open meeting law, including the city council discussing labor negotiations. 5. ADJOURN MOTION by Tesky, second by Windschitl to adjourn meeting at 7:35pm. APIF MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Tony Wippler, Planning Manager