Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • October 7, 2009 Allendale Bee ban could be eliminated at next council meeting by John Koster On Oct. 8, the Allendale Council will consider for final passage an ordinance that would lift the borough’s ban on beekeeping. Allendale was one of two Bergen County municipalities that banned bees 40 years ago. In Allendale, the bee ban was part of a more widespread effort to control exotic animals in the borough. During the 1960s and 1970s, a man set up a goat farm in the middle of the borough. He lived in a homemade cabin located on a Franklin Turnpike property, and kept two horses, a flock of chickens, a Rhesus money, and multiple goats. Meanwhile, in another part of the borough, a man known as “The Cobra King” used his garage to breed cobras. He milked the cobras for venom, which he then sold. After the municipal officials were notified of these activities, they pressured the Cobra King to relocate his snake collection, and the goat farmer subsequently took over his family business. Municipal officials, reluctant to undermine property values, drafted an ordinance that defined which animals could be kept in Allendale. That ordinance prohibited borough residents from keeping cattle, chickens, bees, goats, guinea hens, hogs, horses, ocelots, pigs, pigeons, sheep, and any other animal considered to be dangerous to humans. The recent sharp decline in the honeybee population led to some support for allowing beekeeping in Allendale. Councilman Jim Strauch drafted a proposed revision of the regulation that would allow residents to keep bees if neighbors did not object. He suggested that, if even one neighbor objected, the bees would still be banned. Councilman Ari Bernstein helped fine-tune the draft, and the council then introduced the ordinance. The terms of the ordinance state that the beekeeper must register with the New Jersey Apiarist, who would provide free inspection services as per prior agreement with the council. The Allendale authorities would issue a license for beekeeping good for one year, bearing the name of the licensed beekeeper and expiring at the end of the year. The zoning officer would determine property setbacks, and all hives would have to be located at least 25 feet from the property lines. The borough council would supervise the requirements that a minimum of a quarter-acre would allow for one colony. More than a quarter-acre, but less than a halfacre, would permit two colonies. More than a half-acre, but less than a full acre, would allow four colonies, and acre or more would allow a maximum of six colonies. All residents within 200 feet would be notified, and no permits will be issued if objections arise from neighbors. The hive would have to be protected by an appropriate fence, at least six feet in height with the gate being locked at all times to keep the hive from being disturbed. The (continued on page 10) ������������������� ��������������� � ��������������� � � ���������������� ����������������������������� ����������������� ��������� Large, Luxury 1BR Call for details ������������ NOW RENTING 4 Out of 5 Ain’t Bad! One of my SAT Verbal-Writing tutorial students got into four out of five colleges he applied to…including his target school. College counseling too… ����������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� ������������������������� 201-488-5085 ������������������ ������������ ������������������������� 201-445-1343 • $60 per hour. ����������������������� ��������������������� Coming October 14th! �������������������� ���������������������� ����� in business A Pictorial Supplement to The Villadom TIMES YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER ������������