Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Gardens Text Amendment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission backs text amendment to permit community gardens in commercial and industrial districts
Summary
The commission approved a city‑sponsored text amendment to list community gardens as a permitted use in office, commercial and industrial districts, extending existing permission beyond residential zones; staff said the Washington neighborhood garden group indicated support.
The Zoning Advisory Commission voted May 6 to recommend a text amendment that would list community gardens as a permitted use in office, commercial and industrial districts where they are not currently allowed.
Assistant Planner Travis Shrubeljan, presenting the proposal submitted by the city manager, said community gardens are currently permitted in residential and office residential districts and that expanding the permitted list would allow gardens to locate on more vacant properties and improve access to fresh food in neighborhoods. "This would again add the ability for a community garden as a permitted use in those specific... zoning districts throughout the city that where it's not already permitted," Shrubeljan said.
Shrubeljan told the commission staff had received no letters specifically about the text amendment and noted prior public interest from the Washington neighborhood garden group in finding sites. After a motion to approve the amendment as submitted, the commission voted in favor and forwarded the item to City Council for May 18.
If adopted by council, the change would allow community gardens to be permitted uses in additional commercial and industrial zoning districts; individual garden projects would still be subject to site‑design and development review where applicable.
