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Flagstaff staff propose new 'urban farm' zoning category to expand local food production
Summary
Staff proposed a new 'Urban Farm' primary land‑use to be allowed in the Public Facility zone, permitting commercial growers, greenhouses, limited animal keeping and on‑site sales of produce subject to state/local rules; staff cited a USDA‑supported assessment showing local food insecurity.
City staff on Dec. 11 presented a draft zoning text amendment to create a new land use called "Urban Farm," permitted as a primary use in the Public Facility zoning district and intended to expand food production beyond neighborhood community gardens.
"This urban farm land use would be a primary land use only permitted in the public facility zone," staff said. The draft includes a definition covering growing and harvesting agricultural products to provide food, fiber or horticultural vegetation, and explicitly allows greenhouses, hydroponics, vertical gardening and accessory educational events.
Steven Thompson, a manager in the Sustainability Division, told the Commission the city already has a small number of growers producing for profit, and that a Community Food System Assessment supported with a USDA grant "highlighted significant food insecurities in community members" and motivated efforts to expand local production and partnerships with food banks.
Staff detailed several specific standards in the draft: community gardens and urban farms would be required to retain the first inch of runoff in conformance with the city's low‑impact development (LID) manual; the sale of fresh produce and cottage foods produced on‑site would be permitted subject to state and local regulations; combined buildings and structures would be limited to 15% of the garden area; parking requirements would be relaxed where on‑street or shared parking is available; and urban farms would be exempt from landscape standards that are inappropriate for active production.
The proposal includes limited animal keeping consistent with existing city animal regulations (chickens, ducks, poultry and goats were mentioned) and beekeeping provisions. Staff said commercial urban farms would be expected to pay for required site engineering and water hookups; the Sustainability Office currently pays water for community gardens it operates but commercial licensees would be responsible for water bills.
Commissioners asked about minimum or maximum acreage; staff said there is no minimum or maximum in the draft but noted urban farms are constrained by the fact the use is permitted only in the Public Facility zone unless a rezoning is pursued. Peter Friederisi, an instructor in Northern Arizona University's Sustainable Communities Program, said he supports the change and asked about integrating existing buildings at sites such as McAllister Ranch; staff said existing buildings could be used subject to the Public Facility zone's development standards.
Staff said the draft includes provisions to handle larger sales or widely advertised events through temporary‑use or special‑event permits and that the Commission will review the full text at public hearing on Jan. 8, 2025.
