Beehives will be allowed in downtown Winnipeg

Beekeepers are buzzingover a victory at city hall.

The city's property and developmentcommittee not only voted on Tuesdayto allow bee hives in the downtown, but made it a permitted use andnot conditional.

The difference means lower fees for beekeepers to start hives. Aconditional use permit would have cost beekeepersupwards of $1,200plus taxes.

A permitted use for bees wouldbeapproximately $200.

The new city bylaw will allow beekeepers to start hives on rooftopsof downtown buildings.

Beekeeper Chris Kirouacwas at the meeting at city hall on Tuesday and said this is a great first step.Hehopesthat hives will eventually be allowed across the whole city.

"So I'm hoping that within a year or two we can see it open a lot wider, for myself I think that we have enough really solid examples from cities across Canada that have it wide open, that have had positive experiences that we don't need to drag our feet on this." Kirouac said.

The new amendedrules brings Winnipeg on-side with most major Canadian cities in allowingbeekeeping in urban environments.

Urban beekeeping has been gaining popularity for a number of reasons, includingconcern aboutthe drop in bee populations.

The Fort Garry Hotel made a request last Mayto allow five hives on its roof.

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City of Winnipegadministration prepared an amendment to the downtown zoning bylaw that would allow beekeeping downtown.

The report addresses some concerns about bees, including saying honey bees are generally docile and only stingto protect the hive.

It also states hives already exist in the city of Winnipeg in areas zoned agricultural.

The report allows a maximum of four hives,plus one nucleus hive, for a total of five.

Hive openings should not be pointed towards balconies, patios or public spaces.

Hives that aren't on rooftops need to be behind two-metre-high fences.