Planning Commission reported approval for Beyond Hello plan; bee-keeping text amendment returned to urban farming committee

At its June 10 meeting, the Springdale Planning Commission approved a development plan for a project called Beyond Hello at 12140 Springfield Pike and forwarded a proposed text amendment on keeping bees for further committee review.

Planning Commission member McFarland told council the Beyond Hello development plan was approved 7-0 after a public hearing in which one resident voiced safety concerns related to marijuana. The plan — which includes changes to the parking lot, landscaping and building re-coding — has been seen previously in concept and received unanimous approval for the development plan.

The commission also considered a draft text amendment from the building department addressing the keeping of bees. No members of the public spoke at that hearing; the commission returned several questions to the urban farming committee and asked the committee to respond with possible revisions before the planning commission issues a recommendation to council. The commission also appointed Dave Ocum as its representative to the zoning code revision committee.

Why it matters: The Beyond Hello approval advances a local commercial development, and the bee-keeping amendment could change urban agriculture rules; both items will affect neighborhood character and land-use rules as they proceed through administrative review.

Council received the report and did not take additional action at the meeting; the bee-keeping amendment will return to the planning commission after the urban farming committee addresses the commission’s questions.