A local resident will be allowed to keep his three colonies of honeybees following a decision by the Butler Township Zoning Hearing Board.
Tanner Miller petitioned the board for a variance earlier this week, claiming that the bees should be considered domestic pets which are permitted in the residential area where he lives on Stratford Drive.
Although Miller has registered his colonies with the state and gives away his honey, a neighboring property owner expressed concern about swarms on his property and the hives attracting bears. Other neighbors also spoke at the meeting in favor of allowing Miller to continue helping to pollinate plants in the area with his bees.
After deliberation, the board denied the request to consider bees as domestic pets but did determine that beekeeping not for business purposes would fall under a recreational passive use for Butler Township properties zoned residential.
