Pilot programs that would allow residents to keep backyard chickens or bee hives are working their way through the approval process in Lake Bluff.
The Sustainability and Community Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee of Lake Bluff has developed draft ordinances for the village board to consider. Under the drafts, property owners would have to get a permit from the village government and have their immediate neighbors acknowledge in writing that they have been informed about the plans.
“There could be a neighbor who has a severe allergy to bees,” said Brian Rener, co-chair of the Sustainability Committee.
For residents looking to raise chickens, there are proposed requirements on cleanliness, design of chicken coups and restrictions on the number of hens that can be kept. Roosters and the selling of eggs would not be allowed.
Proposed bee requirements state that no more than one hive can be kept, hives must be a minimum of ten feet from any property line, hives can only be located in a backyards and a flyway barrier – a fence or dense vegetation – that forces bees to fly at least 6 feet above ground level is required.
Those draft ordinances may be found in full on the village’s website at www.lakebluff.org.
Lake Bluff has been considering residential bee keeping and chicken raising since April, Rener said. The Sustainability Committee held a community meeting on July 15 and then presented draft plans to the Village Board.
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The Village Board requested more community meetings so at its Aug. 30 meeting, committee agreed to talk to residents again during the Sept. 29 farmers market and at a Sept. 30 community meeting.
The draft ordinances will then move to the Village Board, likely during the first meeting in October, said Glen Cole, assistant to the village administrator.
Only a few residents have indicated interest so far, said Rener.
Sandy Hart, who represents Lake Bluff and other communities on the Lake County Board, told the committee that residential beekeeping and backyard chickens were approved in unincorporated areas about three years ago.
“It was extremely successful,” Hart said.
Lake County requires registration and a $25 fee. For bees, it has a restriction on the number of hives that is based on the size of the property, requires setbacks from property lines and a close-by water source.
For chickens, there are restrictions on the number that can be kept based on the size of the property.
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