Boston is the bee's knees, councilors declare

The Boston City Council today unanimously approved a measure that will make it easier for residents to raise bees.

The proposed motion, sponsored by Council President Ruthzee Louijeune (at large), would transform winning approval for beehives from an arduous process that requires a hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeal for a variance or conditional-use permit to filling out a simple form and paying a $25 registration fee.

The proposal now goes to Mayor Wu for her signature and then to the city Zoning Commission, which would have to approve moving beekeeping out of the city zoning process.

Louijeune said honeybees are a critical part of agriculture and could become a producer of a locally grown food.

She praised state Rep - and former City Councilor - Rob Consalvo of Hyde Park for introducing her to a local beekeeper, with beekeeping roots going back several generations in South Africa, who alerted her to the difficulties of winning city approval for keep bees. Beyond encouraging bees, she said the measure is part of what should be councilors' role: "Making things simpler for our residents."

As the council approved the measure, she enthused, "our chambers are abuzzing!" She then turned Oprah and told the councilors to look under their desks - where she had earlier hidden jars of honey from two local beekeepers - Leonard Lee of Dorchester and Bill Perkins of Jamaica Plain.

Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson thanks Louijeune for her work - and honey:

Bees!