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life and residents. To promote this form, cities
<br />design districts to promote green design, open
<br />space, alternative transit, or wildlife. -
<br />Besides regulatory tools influencing the
<br />siti ng of urban agriculture, cities strategically
<br />use sales and leases ofvacant land to influ-
<br />encethedistribution ofgardens and farms.
<br />Urban agriculture mayalso be recommended
<br />for particular areas in neighborhood or com-
<br />prehensiveplans.
<br />intensive urban agricultural. while another
<br />city may cdnsider the same activity as less
<br />intensive and may want to promote it on a
<br />wide scale. We suggestthat cities use broad
<br />definitions and permissive development
<br />standards that promote creative experimen-
<br />tation from organizations and citizens. While
<br />this experimentation won't always be free of
<br />conflict, we believe the benefits of a permis-
<br />siveapproach will help reconcile differences
<br />and promote positive relationships.
<br />Whemconsideringpolicychanges,it
<br />may be helpful for plan ners to consider the
<br />following questions:
<br />• What are the possible urban agriculture
<br />activities for our city?
<br />• What can be allowed in a widespread way
<br />with little controversy?
<br />• Whatcanbeallowed,butcontrolled?
<br />• What can be allowed, but only in some
<br />places?
<br />• Are there some places where specific ac-
<br />tivitiesshould be particularly encouraged?
<br />• Who are the likely participants and how
<br />can positive relationships be fostered?
<br />A NOTE ON SITING
<br />While home gardens are likely to pop up all
<br />over a city, the siting of larger urban agriculture
<br />projects requires more thought. If a project is
<br />a sign ificant food source, it should be encour-
<br />aged inareas that have a dearth offresh food.
<br />Likewise, projects that combine elements of
<br />urban agriculture; like production and distribu-
<br />tion, can be combined;.an example iswhen .
<br />Ann Arbor, Michigan, rehabilitated its public
<br />market and linked itto farmland protected by
<br />purchase of developmept rights.
<br />Medium-sized projects, such as com-
<br />munirygardens, should be widely distrib-
<br />uted topromote accessibility and enhance
<br />benefits in a numberof neighborhoods. It
<br />may be effective to recommend urban agri-
<br />culture as a form of open space for planned
<br />unit developments (PUDS). Troy Gardens in
<br />Madison is an example ofa PUD that com-
<br />pletelyintegrates urban agriculture-includ-
<br />ing community gardens, an organic farm,
<br />and a CSA-into a housing development.
<br />There may also be advantages to cdn-
<br />centratingurban agriculture in particular
<br />neighborhoods or corridors. Ifthere are alot
<br />of home garden's or community gardens in a
<br />neighborhood, it can increase home values
<br />and give the neighborhood character and
<br />identity, as with the pocket gardens on the
<br />Lower East Side of New York.
<br />In addition, contiguous urban gardens,
<br />interpolated with other kinds of open space,
<br />can create corridors forwildlife and recreation.
<br />In Madison, a stretch ofa bike path is lined by
<br />the Atwood Community Garden on one side
<br />and prairie restoration on the other, providinga
<br />pleasant open space corddor that attracts wild-
<br />CONCLUSION
<br />Local planners can play an important role in
<br />promoting urban agriculture and shapingthe
<br />direction ittakes.Because there are many
<br />forms of urban agriculture and many different
<br />purposes that it can serve, charting a policy
<br />course can be complex. The first priority for
<br />planners should be to reexamine existing
<br />policy barriers in light of opportun ities,public
<br />goals, and relevant stakeholders. Urban ag-
<br />ricultureoffers an array of activities at many
<br />different scales; it presents a classic planning
<br />opportunity for responding to and promoting
<br />community participation in civic, social, po-
<br />litical,and economic life.
<br />8y no means i5 zoning the only way
<br />to promote urban agriculture. In cities that
<br />have ambitions to rapidly expand urban
<br />agricultural opportunities, it may be neces-
<br />sarytomake land and funding available. In
<br />manycases, the demand for urban agricul-
<br />ture, such as communitygarden plots, is not
<br />nearly being met. Partneri ng with nongov-
<br />ernmentalorganizations such as community
<br />groups, businesses, and land trusts can
<br />be~ an effective way of directi ng resources
<br />toward urban agriculture without havingto
<br />devote significant resources to management
<br />or oversight.
<br />Zoning Practice (ISSN 1546-ai35) is produced at APA. fim Schwab, acc, and David Morley, Aicv, Editors;
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