Sustainable Zoning - Urban Agriculture

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING:

Urban Agriculture

James B. Duncan, FAICP

APA Planners Training Service Sustainable Zoning and Development Controls Austin, Texas February 28-March 1, 2013


‘Food for Thought’

Wealth Health “Agriculture…is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.” Thomas Jefferson APA PLANNERS TRAINING SERVICE – AUSTIN

“All across this great country of ours,

something truly special is taking root. … together, in gardens large and small, we have begun to grow a healthier nation.” Michelle Obama SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


What’s Eating Michael?

How to stop being fat and sick: 1. Never eat anything your great grandmother would not have recognized as food; 2. Avoid anything with more than five ingredients; 3. Eat more plants than animals and more leaves than seeds; and 4. Grow your own whenever possible. Michael Pollan, American author, journalist, activist and professor

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Some Food Facts •

Food is major family expense     

Cost of food increasing     

10% of average US family income spent on food; $6,500 yearly Low-income US families spend 40-60% of income on food About 1/3 of all income is spent dining out and 2/3 dining in Most Atlantans eat out (57%) and most Hialeahans eat in (69%) One Austinite spends the same on food as five Detroiters Global food prices increased 37% last year US livestock prices have risen 138% since 2009 Almost 1/3 of all US produced corn used for ethanol fuel Over 20% of nation’s fruits and vegetables are imported Average food item travels 1,500 miles from farm to plate

“Food insecure” families increasing  18 million US families are considered “food insecure” (15%)  46 million Americans use food stamps ; half are children  25 million Americans use food pantries and soup kitchens

Home gardens becoming urban fixtures  43 million US families maintain an urban garden (1 out of 3)  Median urban garden size is 100 sq. ft. and average is 600 sq. ft.  Only 6% of all urban gardens are larger than 2,000 sq. ft.

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE

http://aginginplaceoptions.com/2011/12/food-spending-in-the-largest-u-s-cities-infographic/


Urban Agriculture is Not New! Potato Patches (1890-1900):  Detroit program to counter poverty and unemployment  Migrants would socialize and learn American way

Liberty Gardens (1917-1919):  European conflict caused US food prices to skyrocket  Push for “million new backyard and vacant lot gardens”

Depression Relief Gardens (1931-1939):  New Deal provided billions to relief garden programs  Relief gardens combated hunger, poverty and stress

Victory Gardens (1941-1946):  Ease burden on US war production and transportation  Maintain vitality & morale of Americans on home front

Community Gardens (1970-present):  Piece of land gardened collectively by group of people  Gardens improve public health and food security

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Sustainable Benefits of Urban Ag Economy Profit     

Enhances availability and affordability of fresh produce Increases entrepreneurial and work opportunities Reduces food transportation distances and costs Encourages production of rare fruits and vegetables Promotes reuse of abandoned areas and vacant lots

Environment Planet     

Promotes air quality by absorbing green house gases Stabilizes soils and prevents runoff and erosion Diverts waste from landfills into compost Improves aesthetics by increasing green space Reduces energy consumption and heat islands

Equity People     

Improves public health, nutrition and self-esteem Promotes sense of stewardship and community Relieves chronic and emergency food insecurity Reduces crime in low-income neighborhoods Promotes agriculture as integral part of urban life

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Glossary of Urban Agriculture Aeroponics Apiculture Agritourism Agro-forestry Agropolis Agroecology Agtvist Aquaponics Bagriculture Cage-free Cold frame Composting Farmers market Farm stand Food chain Food desert Food miles Food security Food trailer Foodshed APA PLANNERS TRAINING SERVICE – AUSTIN

Gardening Backyard Balcony Barrel Basement Basket Community Container Cottage Edible Front yard Guerilla Home Intercultural Market Neighborhood Rooftop Schoolyard Vertical Window box

Homesteading Hoop house Horticulture Husbandry Hydroponics Intercropping Intra-urban Layering Locavore Micro-livestock Night soil Mycoculture Organic Peri-urban Permaculture Pisciculture Urban farm Tilth Vertical farm Zero-grazing SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Four Faces of Urban Farming

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


How Green is Your City? Local Food and Agriculture 2008

www.sustainlane.com/ APA PLANNERS TRAINING SERVICE – AUSTIN

SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


What Can Your Community Do?  Provide farming/gardening training programs  Identify suitable sites for community gardens  Provide low-interest loans and grants  Reduce local costs (fees, trash, water, taxes, etc.)  Adopt farm-friendly plans and policies  Adopt farm-friendly zoning regulations

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


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New York City Raleigh

Portland

Cleveland

Siting Community Gardens

SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Crop Demand and Value (NYC) Fruit and Vegetable Demand (lbs/yr)

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Potential Crop Value (1000 sf bed)

SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Farmers Markets Benefits  Farmers/producers sell directly to consumers, enhancing profits by eliminating middleman  Consumers obtain locally-oriented fruits and vegetables from Certified Organic farmers  Consumers enjoy fresh, seasonally-grown food produced within drivable distance from home  More capital remains in consumers’ community

Interesting Facts  Originated in Egypt 5,000+ years ago by Nile farmers  1st modern US market was Philadelphia’s High Street (became largest indoor US market in 1890s – Reading RR)  Seattle’s Pike Place opened in 1907; died and came back  7,200+ farmers markets in US, up 250% in past 18 years  NYC hosts 44 farmers markets; Union Square biggest  Largest US market in Madison WI with over 300 stalls  World’s largest market in Tokyo with over 1700 stalls  Several marijuana markets have opened on West Coast

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Detroit: From Fords to Foods •

Situation:        

Urban population down (2m to 700k) Minority population up (80% black) Metro population about same (4m) Unemployment rate up 27% Property values down ($15k homes) Vacant lots up (30k+) Building teardowns up (10k in 4 years) Food desert (no chain food stores)

Organizations:  Detroit Black Community Food Network: nonprofit seeking to increase fresh food and healthy living  Garden Resource Program Collaborative: nonprofit and academic resources for urban gardening  Hantz Farms: nation’s largest for-profit urban farm  Urban Roots: promotes small-scale urban farming

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Seattle: Linking People to Plots Seattle’s neighborhood gardening program uses internet to match its plots with potential gardeners.        

P-Patch program existed since 1973 300 patches on 2 acres serve 4,400 gardeners Spaces leased through nonprofit land trust Search engine matches plots and people Current wait time for plot is 18 months Generates $1.25m of produce annually 12 tons of food donated to local food banks Local levy supports patches ($2m annually)

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Keeping Austin Edible Weird

Texas Legislature establishes new farm-to-table caucus

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


What Zoning can do… Permitted uses     

Allow small-scale home gardens in all residential districts Allow small farm animals in all residential districts Allow home-grown food sales (no value-added) in all districts Allow community gardens in all districts, except some industrial Allow farmers markets in most nonresidential districts

Sites and structures    

Establish compatibility standards (noise, odor, setbacks) Allow height and setback exceptions for accessory uses Allow agricultural accessory structures (sheds, coops, pens) Allow adaptive reuse of older buildings for agriculture

Bonuses and incentives  Give density bonuses for small stores in mixed use projects  Offer density/height/process bonus for green roof gardening  Allow community gardens to meet open space requirements

Definitions  Clearly define various levels and types of urban agriculture (e.g. home gardens, community gardens and urban farms)

 Clearly define various types, size and number of animals (e.g. chickens, fish, bees and rabbits vs. horses, cows and goats)

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Critters in Cleveland Structures allowed in residential districts (fences, sheds, greenhouses, coops, cages, beehives, hoop houses, cold frames, barns, rain barrels, composting and farm stands) Fences up to 6 feet high may be in rear yards and up to 4 feet in front and street side yards. All fences shall be ornamental or vinyl-covered chain link. Farm Stands: Produce, plants, eggs and honey grown within 1,000 feet of lot. Farm stands may occupy up to 2% of land or 200 sf and be 18 inches from lot line. Sales between 8am and dusk. One small sign allowed.

Animals allowed in residential districts Chickens, ducks, rabbits and similar: One per 800 sf (typically 6). Roosters, geese and turkeys if over one acre. Required rear yard cages must be 5 feet from side lines and 18 inches from rear line. Slaughter for consumption Goats, pigs, sheep and similar: Two for first 24,000 sf and one per additional 2,400 sf. In non-residential districts, two for first 14,400 sf and one per additional 1,200 sf. Enclosures can not be in front or street side yards. Bees: One hive per 2,400 sf in rear yard 5 feet from lot lines and 10 feet from dwellings. Hives must face away from nearest neighbor. Six foot fence and fresh water supply required. No Africanized bees. Cleveland Zoning Code; Sections 337.02 and 347.02 APA PLANNERS TRAINING SERVICE – AUSTIN

SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Gardens in San Francisco Permitted uses: Home gardens (for personal consumption only)  Not regulated by city garden ordinance Neighborhood agriculture (less than 1 acre)  Permitted in all zoning districts Large-Scale urban agriculture (1 acre or more)  Permitted in commercial, industrial, production, distribution & repair districts  Permitted in all other zoning districts with conditional use authorization

Development standards: 1. Compost areas shall be set back at least 3 feet from dwellings and decks 2. Fencing, if provided, shall be of wood, ornamental, chain-link or woven wire 3. Except for initial preparation of land, mechanized farm equipment prohibited (household landscape equipment permitted) 4. Farm equipment shall be enclosed or otherwise screened from sight 5. Sale of fresh products grown on-site permitted from 6am to 8pm (value-added products not permitted in residential districts). San Francisco Ordinance 66-11, adopted April 20, 2011

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Amendments in Seattle

Urban Agriculture: 1. Add definitions for horticulture, aquaculture, animal husbandry, community gardens (including P-Patches) and urban farms 2. Permit community gardens in all zones, with some limitations in industrial zones 3. Permit urban farms in all zones as follows: a) Commercial: as principal or accessory use; horticulture with some limits b) Industrial: as principal or accessory use on land, or building roofs and sides c) Residential: as accessory use up to 4,000 sf; urban farm conditionally 4. Give rooftop greenhouses 15’ height exception 5. Define farmers markets as multi-purpose use 6. Increase number of allowed chickens from 3 to 8; No roosters Seattle Ordinance 123378, adopted Sept. 23, 2010 APA PLANNERS TRAINING SERVICE – AUSTIN

SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Agricultural Urbanism “Agricultural urbanism is different from urban agriculture. Agricultural urbanism creates a walkable urban form surrounded by large-scale food production, while urban agriculture simply refers to growing food in empty lots or backyards. Agricultural urbanism requires extensive planning, while urban agriculture does not.” Andres Duany, November 2009 Food

Building Types Matrix

http://www.lindroth.cc/pdf/QuickReadAgf.pdf APA PLANNERS TRAINING SERVICE – AUSTIN

SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Future of Urban Agriculture?

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


Specific Questions for Your City:      

What are possible urban agriculture activities for your city? What can be allowed widespread with little controversy? What can be allowed, but only in a controlled manner? What can be allowed, but only in certain places? Are there places where activities should be encouraged? Who are participants and how can relations be fostered?

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SUSTAINABILITY AND ZONING: URBAN AGRICULTURE


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