14 Nov Summary of Urban Farm Ordinance

Full ordinance and detailed backup information available here: http://bit.ly/174GmYa

The Urban Farm Ordinance was created with stakeholder and staff input; draft recommendations

received staff review from the Office of Sustainability, Planning & Development Review, Code Compliance, Environmental Health, and Watershed Protection Department in July-August.

On August 26th, the Sustainable Food Policy Board approved the Working Group’s recommendations without making any changes. On September 24th, the recommendations were considered by the Planning Commission, which made a number of changes. Both the SFPB and PC meetings included public hearings. The Urban Farm Ordinance makes changes to the existing Urban Farm definition in the land development code, found primarily in City Code 25-2-863.

• Definition of use – The ordinance recommends three total urban agricultural uses, all of which could be located in the Drinking Water Protection Zone and the Desired Development Zone. Urban Farm use maintains the current 1-acre minimum size. Market Garden is a new use for agricultural operations under 1-acre in size with strict restrictions on the commercial nature of these operations. Another new use called Urban Farm with Facilities for Gatherings would allow certain farms to host events, but would require a conditional use permit in all zoning areas. All three uses in a residential zone would require a house on-site that the farmer lives in. In the rare occasion that a market garden use is desired without a house, the owner may seek a conditional use permit. Obtaining a conditional use permit requires a public hearing and approval by the Planning Commission.

• Dwellings – The ordinance recommends that the number of dwellings allowed for all types of Urban Farms and Market Gardens follows base zoning (if your zoning is SF-3, which allows 2 dwellings, than a farm in SF-3 zoning could have 2 dwellings).

• Employees – The ordinance recommends increasing the number of allowed employees on Urban Farms, from 1 to 2 employee per acre or partial acre. “Employees” are full-time and non-seasonal. Market Gardens are limited to 1 full-time employee who is not the owner/renter.

• Animal Raising and Processing – The ordinance up recommends that on all types of Urban Farms, the processing and composting of rabbits, fowl and fish be allowed provided it is out of sight. One animal per week may be processed and/or composted per 1/10th of an acre, so long as the processing operation is licensed by the state. Market Gardens should be allowed to raise protein, but not process on site.

• Events: The ordinance recommends that Urban Farms and Market Gardens be allowed to host agricultural education activities such as volunteer programs, farm tours, youth programs, and farming classes. The ordinance recommends that urban farms wishing to use their farm for special events such as weddings, dinners, fundraisers, and cooking classes obtain a conditional use permit to become an Urban Farm with Facilities for Gatherings.

• Sale of Products: the Working Group recommends that Urban Farms be able to sell agricultural products produced on their farm or another farm that they own at their own farm stand. Third party products should take up no more than 20% of the farm stand’s sales area and be produced in the state of Texas. Market Garden sales should be regulated in accordance with the current restrictions placed on Home Occupation businesses; an on-site farm stands is not permitted and sales must be conducted out of sight of the general public on the property.

  Questions: Kate Vickery: kate.vickery@austintexas.gov or Katherine Nicely: bc-

katherine.nicely@austintexas.gov