Decatur, Georgia – New laws to cover urban agriculture

In 1988 people weren’t farming,(in the city)” said planning director Amanda Thompson.

Written by Doug Richards
11 Alive News
Aug. 31 2011

Excerpt:

Decatur, Georgia — Decatur has been a city disinclined to discourage the agricultural tendencies of its urban community.

With a two-acre community garden in the Oakhurst neighborhood, with chickens scratching in the backyards of intown bungalows, where a family with three pygmy goats in the backyard raises nary an eyebrow– it’s all part of the Decatur landscape.

Problem is, it’s not part of the city code, last updated thirteen years ago. “And in 1988 people weren’t farming,” said planning director Amanda Thompson. “They certainly weren’t farming in their back yards or front yards or keeping chickens on their property.”

So the city is doing a comprehensive re-write of its city zoning codes — to reflect changes in agricultural attitudes, and to eliminate numerous grey areas. A task force has been assembled to examine the city’s entire zoning structure. It’s expected to conclude in about 18 months.

Read the complete article here.