It is amazing to me, that any legislator would attempt to restrict the number of bees in their home county. Bees are imperative for our food supply. Honey bees pollinate 80% of the food we eat. Having bees in ones neighborhood dramatically improves the quality of the gardens and farms located nearby. With all of the environmental threats to bees, and the collapse of many hives over the past few years, one would think that wise and intelligent planners would be looking to foster an environment to encourage beekeeping in their counties!
We NEED bees!
I suspect that the current restrictions are born out of fear which is a result of ignorance surrounding the safety of bees. Honey bees are often confused with wasps, hornets, yellow jackets. These are pests and they have a nasty sting. They are also often aggressive. Honey bees on the other hand are busy, and rarely have time to think about being aggressive. I am a homeschool parent who keeps bees in the county. My children ages 2 through 16 walk up to the bees, sit in front of the hives and watch the bees working, (without any special clothing). No one in our family has ever been stung.

Responsible bee keepers will maintain basic safe standards; such as a fly zone, and a water source so the bees won't use neighbor's pools etc.

Please consider adopting standards for the county similar to those in place in the City of Spokane. Both for rural and residential zones within the county. Please work with Bee keepers in the community to devise a plan that would benefit the county as a whole, county residents, and county beekeepers.

With all the latest news and information about Colony Collapse disorder (CCD) I find it outrageous that Spokane County would impose yet another obstacle in the path of local beekeepers which would hinder their ability to be compliant with the law and successful in their endeavor whether they are commercial beekeepers or hobbyists. Beekeepers won't be the only ones adversely impacted but gardeners as well. Simply put, no bees, no pollination, no fruit, berries, or vegetables. What then?

I chose to raise bees thinking (1) I would do something good for the environment and (2) raise an organic garden to help feed my family and friends as I am concerned about where my food comes from and how it is grown. I faithfully registered my hives upon receiving them and have been pursuing my Journeyman Certification with the ultimate goal of becoming a Master Beekeeper. After keeping bees for several years I jest recently learned that beekeeping is illegal where I live. Although I live on an acre+, I cannot abide by the proposed setback restrictions. My hives are situated at the back of my property and are not near my neighbor's homes. The honey bees do not attack people (yellow jackets and hornets are aggressive and will bother humans), they do however pollinate the trees and flowers. Please reconsider these large setback requirements.

I am a teacher in the Mead School District and part of the curriculum for 2nd graders is insects. I have gone to these classes and taught these little ones the importance of bee keeping. I am also a bee keeper in the county and have been certified by the state and have registered my hives. Given the importance of honeybees for our food supply, is it really in our best interest to limit bee keeping? If it is restricted as the planning board suggests, I would lose hundreds of dollars in equipment, potential sales in honey, and one of my favorite hobbies. I highly suggest the board meet with the beekeeping community before placing any limits on county or rural bee keepers.

The proposed limitation of beekeeping and hobby beekeeping in Spokane county exhibits some of the worst of regressive and over reaching government; shows a basic lack of education regarding the impact to agriculture, both ornamental and nutritional; a disregard for the health of the community as consuming local honey contributes to the mitigation of local allergies (ask Hollister Stier); the minimization of insect diversification that leads to healthy growth in a species; the heavy handed eliminitation of already existing, legitimate means of living; and the encouragement of misplaced hysteria instead of the responsibility of citizen education because it's easier to react than to act responsibly.

Reprinted from email list
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Dear Legislators Serving Spokane County,

There will be a hearing April 15, 900AM at the Spokane County Public Works Building which will address requiring limitations on Beekeeping in Rural Zones to match the current limitations on Beekeeping in Resource lands.
Specifically this is a limit of 10 hives per acre with a 50 foot set setback from all property lines and must be enclosed with a security fence.
I realize that this is a county issue, not a state issue, but we would appreciate your support (written or in person) to defeat this proposed change. This is yet another direct attack on agriculture. The planning commission has determined that the proposed change will not have an environmental impact, thus no SEPA documents need be filed. I would argue that any action that will limit pollination of food plants and other ornamental plants will indeed have an environmental impact.

Sincerely,
Hal Meenach, President
Spokane County Farm Bureau

This appears to be one of the most poorly thought-out amendments I can imagine for this area. Has the county considered how this will affect small, or even large, orchardists who contract to have bees pollinate their orchards? Will they be limited in the number of hives they can use for pollination to 10 hives per acre? Or how about a professional beekeeper who overwinters pollination hives on a 10 acre property. Can that person only keep 100 hives?

The Spokane County Comprehensive plans states is goal are. "Assuring the protection and enhancement of the County’s natural resources, environmental systems and neighborhood and community character in the midst of anticipated growth and change;... Conservation of natural resources;... Protection and enhancement of the environment;...[and] to improve quality of life, provide opportunities for innovative approaches to land use and protect our community character."

Not sure where limiting beekeeping fits in to these goals.