Minneapolis Urban Agriculture Policy Plan is now available for Public Review

A draft of the Urban Agriculture Policy Plan is available for public review and comment between December 9, 2010 and January 31, 2011. The City of Minneapolis encourages stakeholders to read the draft plan document which is a land use and policy guide for urban agriculture in our city. The plan contains recommendations related to land use, zoning, access to land, and design options among others.

Excerpt:

1. Amend the zoning code to better accommodate urban agriculture uses.

1.1 Define the following terms in the zoning code: community gardens, market gardens, urban farms, aquaculture, and anaerobic digesters. Further evaluate the appropriate zoning districts for these uses based on the guidance below:

Allow market gardens in a variety of zoning districts, including low density residential areas.

Set a maximum lot area and other performance standards for market
gardens so the use fits into a neighborhood context. ? Establish design standards for market gardens similar to those that have
been established for community gardens.

Allow market gardens to be located on rooftops and on the ground.

Prohibit market gardens on the ground in districts typically associated with high density development such as in Downtown districts, Growth Centers, and Activity Centers (instead market gardens would need to be on rooftops in those destination areas).

Allow urban farms in Industrial districts and some Commercial districts.

Define aquaculture as an urban farm related activity.

Examine which Industrial districts are appropriate for anaerobic digesters.

1.2 Amend the development standards for community gardens to allow for larger signage within the garden areas (for billboard like messages), larger hoop houses, and the periodic sale of produce.

1.3 Amend signage regulations to allow farmers’ market signs to remain on?site all year, but require that the sign be removed after a farmers’ market closes permanently.

1.4 Change the list of permitted obstructions in the front yard set back to allow for planting beds in front yards. A maximum height for the beds and minimum setbacks from the property lines should be determined.
1.5 Make provisions for trellises designed for growing food.

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Recommendations
Urban Agriculture Plan

1.6 Change the home occupation standards to allow growing as an outside operation.

1.7 Amend the accessory use standards to include a hoop house as an enumerated accessory use with development standards, including size and height requirements for hoop houses specifically.

See the complete draft of the Plan here.