Bee fans gain ground in Forsyth County

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By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

With more than two dozen advocates swarming the commission chamber, Forsyth County commissioners Tuesday took initial steps to allow beekeeping in residential areas of the county.

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Nicholas Weaver, a beekeeper with eight hives behind his home near Cumming, had been in a dispute with Forsyth County officials who say his bees are livestock that aren't allowed in residential areas.

Channel 2 Action News, Channel 2 Action News Nicholas Weaver, a beekeeper with eight hives behind his home near Cumming, had been in a dispute with Forsyth County officials who say his bees are livestock that aren't allowed in residential areas.

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The unanimous vote left Nicholas Weaver beaming.

Weaver, who has eight hives at his one-acre home in rural Cumming, was cited last August for raising livestock in a residential area.

"I've been raising bees since I was 13," Weaver said. "I have a garden is the main reason I have them."

The county's zoning laws prohibit the raising of most domesticated livestock in restricted residential areas. Beekeeping is allowed in agriculture districts and some rural residential areas.

Planning director Tom Brown said one provision in the code allows one animal per acre in these special residential areas, "which obviously would not work for this use."

The issue drew more attention at the regular commission work session than the small meeting room could accommodate, so county officials moved discussion to the large commission chamber where close to 30 beekeeping fans took their places.

Marc Conlyn, president of the Forsyth Beekeepers Club, told commissioners that honeybees are not domesticated livestock and are the only insects that provide food for human consumption. In addition, he said, honeybees are vegetarian and passive, stinging only when they sense their hive is threatened.

There are beehives on the grounds of the White House and at the Georgia Governor's Mansion, Conlyn said.

It will take about a month for Tuesday's commission action to be incorporated into the official zoning code. Even then, homeowners associations can ban beekeeping if they so choose.