Bob & Liz wrote:
>
> Hello Todd & All,
> I guess I will try to answer Todd.

Bob's comments are excellent.

I would add that even though a use is grand fathered and can continue at
the location, how the use is managed is still under the zoning laws.
Beekeeping is not the issue here. It is the beekeepers and the way they
are managing their hives so as not to create a problem. If they are
doing so responsibly, then they have the law on their side. If they are
not, then the law is on your side.

But, having said that, I suggest you contact the areas Codes Enforcement
Officer or whatever their title might be- the person responsible for
enforcing the town/city/whatever's zoning laws. The CEO can determine if
it is a permitted use of the land and that the beekeepers are operating
within the constraints of that use. If it is not a permitted use and not
grand fathered, they will have to move. If it is grand fathered but they
have expanded the use, they will have to scale it back.

If they determine that the beekeepers are not operating within the
constraints of that use, they will have to comply with the constraints
imposed by the law and may have to move or decrease the size of the
operation.

If they determine that the use is permitted and the beekeepers are
operating within the constraints of that use, then see if there is a
local Beekeeping organization and ask them to take a look at what is
going on. To find the organization you will probably have to work
through the State Agriculture Department, or check the AI Root site and
Bee Culture magazine for State contacts. In Mass. the beekeepers helped
get the hives of a beekeeper who was not managing their bees moved to a
new location where they were no longer a problem. Beekeepers do not want
bad eggs to spoil it for the majority. They will be able to tell you if
what is going on is appropriate and might work with the beekeepers to
fix the problem.

If that does not work, then try politics and see if the local rep will
help defuse the problem.

And, if all of the above has not worked, I would hire a lawyer and sue.
But you will have to show it is a beekeeper problem and not a bee
problem.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, ME