16.314 COMMUNITY GArDENS

16.314.01 PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY

These provisions establish requirements and regulations for the creation and operation of community gardens; aligned with the General Plan’s Healthy Community Policies, that contribute to the social, economic, and environmental well being of residents. Additionally they intend to:

A. Increase community access to fresh local produce; B. Strengthen the health and social environment of the community by supporting projects that engage and involve a wide variety of community members while providing an opportunity for physical exercise; C. Provide a potential source of additional income to households and individuals through cooperative marketing of home-grown produce; D. Improve the natural environment by adding vegetation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions; E. Beautify neighborhoods by reducing the blighting effect of vacant lots; and F. Ensure that urban agricultural activities are compatible with and do not have negative impacts on surrounding residents.

16.314.02 REQUIREMENTS

A. Zoning Compliance Review Required. Community

Gardens are allowed as a primary or interim use in SDD as provided in Table 16.301-B: Land

Use Regulations, subject to a determination of

Zoning Compliance Review as provided for in

Chapter 16.603, Zoning Compliance Review. B. Interim Use. When an application proposes establishing a community garden as an interim use, the application shall specify the proposed duration of the use. C. Garden Management. Community Gardens can be organized by community groups, nonprofit organizations, the City, or landowners. In all cases, the garden shall be managed by a garden coordinator who serves as liaison between gardeners, property owners, and the City, and shall be operated according to a set of rules addressing governance, hours of operation, maintenance and security responsibilities, and the system for assigning plots. D. Structures. Structures are limited to storage sheds, plant cultivation structures (greenhouses, hoop houses. and cold frames), benches, bike racks, raised planting beds, compost or waste bins, picnic tables, fences, and rain barrel systems. Individual structures may not exceed 120 square feet in size or 12 feet in height without a Building Permit. The combined area of all covered structures excluding compost bins and trash enclosures shall not exceed 15 percent of the garden area. All structures shall meet the setback requirements of the underlying zoning district and

Section 16.501.02, Accessory Buildings and Structures. E. Fencing. Community Gardens shall be fenced in accordance with the development standards of the underlying zoning district and the applicable requirements of Section 16.505, Fences, Walls and Screening. F. Signs. One sign per street frontage is permitted.

Signs shall not exceed 4 square feet of sign face area and shall not exceed 6 feet in height. The sign shall include a contact telephone number and/or contact e-mail address/website address for the garden coordinator No advertising for garden sponsors, donors, supporters, suppliers, etc. is permitted on site. G. Water. Community Gardens shall have a metered water supply with costs paid by the garden coordinator on behalf of the body.

1. Watering may be provided by a drip irrigation system or by hand using a hose or watering can. 2. The garden coordinator shall provide information to plot holders including advice on water conservation, mulching, effective watering techniques, etc.

H. Composting. Composting in compliance with the following requirements may be performed on the site:

1. Compost materials shall be stored in a container or containers located at least 3 feet from an adjacent property in a manner that is not visible from any adjacent property 2. Odors and infestation shall be controlled so they do not exceed levels typically found in a well-maintained residential garden; 3. Compost materials may only be generated on site or by active members of the community garden.