DEPARTMENT: Development Services Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Michael Shannon
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT:
Briefing and discussion of a Council Consideration Request (CCR) to review and potentially bring forward amendments to the Unified Development Code relating to existing Urban Farm regulations.
SUMMARY:
Councilman Cabello Havrda initiated a Council Consideration Request (CCR) for Development Services staff to review the City Code, including the building and trade codes and the Unified Development Code, to identify potential barriers to Urban Farms and develop solutions to these barriers.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Urban Farms serve important community purposes, including environmental services, community food security, economic generation, and community and neighborhood building.
In addition, urban farms and other urban agriculture can reduce ground-level ozone and improve air quality, extend expected longevity for vulnerable populations and result in reduced disparity in expected longevity, reduce urban heat island effects, reduce standing water in areas of inadequate drainage and resulting vector-borne diseases, reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, i.e. increase mental health, result in improved flooding infrastructure, responses to flooding, and evacuation routes, reduce crime focused on vulnerable zip codes and increase safety and security in the community.
DSD has worked with the Food Policy Council of San Antonio to develop an initial package of Unified Development Code (UDC) Amendments in 2015. Since then, the implementation of the 2015 UDC Amendments has identified additional barriers faced by Urban Farms in order to begin operations.
This CCR is intended to identify additional opportunities for Urban Farms to succeed and develop solutions through code modifications.
ISSUE:
The UDC currently has regulations that permit Urban Farms within certain residential and non-residential zoning districts.
DSD propos...
Click here for full text