Urban Agriculture in the City of Fort Collins Lindsay Ex, Senior Environmental Planner HEAL Cities Conference November 20, 2013

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1 Urban Agriculture in the City of Fort Collins Lindsay Ex, Senior Environmental Planner HEAL Cities Conference November 20,

2 Goals Highlight how Fort Collins has adapted our policies How we are being more strategic now Strengths and Challenges Have fun Above: Gardens on Spring Creek 2

3 Pesky Definitions Land Use Code set of regulations applied to development projects to protect the community s health, safety, and welfare and ensure development aligns with our comprehensive plan Permitted Uses uses allowed in a Zone District Principal Use primary use of the land, e.g., a home Accessory Use use that is present as a result of your principal use, e.g., a garage or garden Industry Cluster - geographic concentrations of interconnected companies and institutions in a particular field 3

4 The City s Commitment Gardens on Spring Creek Initiated in 1995 Garden of Eatin (2009) Community gardens in parks (2013) Above: Gardens on Spring Creek 4

5 The City s Commitment Gardens on Spring Creek Initiated in 1995 Garden of Eatin (2009) Community gardens in parks (2013) City Plan Update in 2011 Included four goals around food production, access, and equity 5

6 So what s the problem? Insert map of where they wanted to farm Above: Owners of Spring Kite Farm 6

7 What did our Land Use Code say? Urban Agriculture only allowed in the orange: - Public Open Lands - River Conservation - Urban Estate - Residential Foothills 7

8 But what was the reality? Existing Urban Agricultural Land Uses 8

9 Project Goal Ensure City regulations support the community s desires in relation to urban agriculture practices both when and where appropriate. Fossil Creek Community Gardens (Photo: Courtney Levingston) 9

10 Phase 1: Understand Research & Outreach Talked with other communities what worked well for them? Two focus groups Formulated strategies Identify barriers Determine what s acceptable and where Develop standards 10

11 Phase 2: Develop, Test, and Refine Research & Outreach Online survey Open house Tested draft standards Six City Boards and Commissions Benchmarked regulations Support urban gardens in more zones while addressing compatibility? Allow ducks? Scale poultry based on lot size? Allow goats? 11

12 Phase 2: Develop, Test, and Refine 12 Drafted Two Ordinances: Land Use Code: Allowed urban agriculture in all zone districts License established Established standards Allowed farmers markets in mixed-use zone districts Municipal Code: Allowed ducks, scaled poultry based on lot size Allowed two pygmy or dwarf goats per lot Updated beekeeping regulations Movable Comb Beehive.

13 Phase 3: Adopt Public Dialogue Council Work Session Boards and Commissions Focus group on health issues Adoption in July 2013 (Photo: Alison O Connor) Nigerian dwarf goats (Photo: dreamersfarm.com) 13

14 We did all this work how do we know what the next priority is? Above: Gardens on Spring Creek 14

15 Forming a Local Food Cluster Strategic Planning Three workshops Over 160 citizens Nine objectives Inventory/ Assessment Policy Engagement Structure Honor each other Solicited commitment Above: CSU Sponsored Engagement Event (Photo: Susan Kelly) 15

16 Aren t clusters an economic tool? A 25% shift toward local food consumption creates almost 2,000 jobs in Boulder County and over 31,000 jobs statewide 16

17 What are the Cluster s next steps? Complete the Inventory and Assessment Focus on High Impact/Doable Projects Influence Public Policy Solicit engagement from the business community Formalize the Cluster Above: CSU Sponsored Engagement Event (Photo: Susan Kelly) 17

18 What did we learn Initial policy conversations 1. Collaboration is key Being democratic is the first step in providing access Involve your health department and those who will enforce regulations For many planners, this is still a new topic focus on listening For collaborators, the City is your partner 18

19 2. Learn from others See what others are doing, both inside and outside of your community, before drafting regulations What did we learn Initial policy conversations 19

20 1. Strengths Honor each other What did we learn Local Food Cluster Community is excited about this topic The Cluster Tool allowed individual efforts to flourish but also brought people together 2. Challenges Role of the City Involving the business community How to get commitment 20

21 21 Thank you! Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee Citizens and individuals who have helped to shape this effort City Boards and Commissions City Council City of Fort Collins and CanDo Staff Team Coalition for Activity and Nutrition to Defeat Obesity (CanDo) Colorado State University Farmers and producers who have contributed their time Fort Collins Housing Authority Gardens on Spring Creek Larimer Humane Society Larimer County Department of Health & Food Bank Trebuchet Group And you!

22 Urban Agriculture in the City of Fort Collins Lindsay Ex, Senior Environmental Planner HEAL Cities Conference November 20,