Chicago’s new Mayor Rahm Emanuel will expand urban agriculture

President Obama supports his former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

Expand Urban Agriculture

For centuries, Chicago’s fertile land has been used to grow fresh produce and create employment opportunities. But today, city government stands in the way of a renaissance of local food production by limiting the size and revenue potential of these enterprises. Rahm wants to break down these barriers and help local businesses and non-profits to secure land, sell their produce on-site, and create after-school and job training opportunities. The initiative will focus expansion on Chicago’s south and west sides where large food deserts prevent communities from accessing fresh and healthy produce.

Cut the bureaucratic and regulatory prohibitions on urban agriculture

On Chicago’s south and west side, community efforts are already underway to convert empty plots – often in a state of urban ruin and a hub for crime and drugs – into community gardens. Rahm recognizes the value of these community-initiated efforts and wants to support them by cutting the arcane zoning regulations that make it difficult for community gardens to thrive. Previous efforts to open community gardens and farms in the city have been stymied by a lack of clarity around the zoning ordinances. In one instance, it took two years to open a single community farm simply because of the regulatory red tape. As mayor, Rahm is committed to eliminating these bureaucratic and regulatory obstacles so that Chicagoans can exercise their innovation and more readily develop agricultural solutions that meet their needs. In addition to updating the zoning guidelines, Rahm will also help develop a set of Site Guidelines, which will guide community and commercial garden installations to ensure that community gardens are able to be run in efficient and cost-effective manners.

Allow fresh produce to be sold on-site

Current Chicago laws prohibit businesses from operating in residential zones without rezoning. While this makes sense through most of the city, it prohibits food grown on agricultural plots from being sold on-site. Rahm will work with the City Council to reform the zoning code so that fresh produce can be sold where it is grown. This will have particular impact on Chicago’s south and west sides where non-profit organizations are turning blighted lots into agricultural plots.

Link to Mayor’s website here.

See President Obama’s support here.