The discussion on urban beekeeping captured the Commission’s attention as speakers advocated for the removal of beekeeping from the zoning code, enabling the practice to be regulated through municipal ordinance. Proponents of the amendment, including Rui Luan, President of the Boston City Council, Jesse Pervis, the director of policy for the council, and local beekeeper Val Mayo, emphasized the ecological benefits of urban beekeeping and the unnecessary regulatory hurdles that currently restrict the practice. The proposed bee ordinance, which allows for up to five hives, is seen as a step towards making beekeeping more equitable and accessible across the city.

During the meeting, the importance of bees as pollinators and their role in environmental conservation was highlighted, with Shany Fletcher expressing gratitude for the opportunity to address the significance of the bee ordinance for beekeepers. Concerns about large-scale commercial beekeeping and its potential impact on neighboring properties were also raised, prompting discussions about the allowable number of hives.

The Commission then shifted focus to the challenges related to non-conformities in the current zoning code, particularly in the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The commission found that a vast majority of residential parcels do not meet zoning requirements related to unit count, floor ratio, lot size, and setbacks, with 87% of residential parcels not complying with setback regulations and 99.7% falling short on multiple zoning criteria. These non-conformities pose a significant barrier to the development of ADUs, which require variances for renovations due to the restrictive nature of the current zoning code.

The presentation on ADUs by Will Cohen, a planner working on the initiative, outlined the goals to allow ADUs on most residential lots and to simplify the regulations to encourage housing production. The commission explored the implications of the ADU zoning initiative on the diverse built form of the city and the need for zoning rules to accommodate a variety of ADUs in different neighborhoods. To address these disparities, the commission presented an analysis of different types of lots and buildings and emphasized the importance of developing zoning rules that could allow for the integration of ADUs city-wide.

The team also provided an analysis of building and lot patterns in the city, identifying three main categories of neighborhoods based on the space between buildings. The need for a systematic zoning approach that considers these neighborhood patterns was stressed, as was the development of an ADU guidebook to provide clear information and guidance, which will be made accessible in multiple languages.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for further engagement and feedback on the ADU zoning initiative, with the next meeting scheduled for two weeks later. The development plan approval that was on the agenda was postponed due to insufficient members for a vote, with the rescheduled vote set for June 5th at 9:00 a.m.