Zach Clayton Chicago Department of Environment Urban Management and Brownfields Redevelopment April 5, 2011 Urban Agriculture “By Right” in Chicago Copyright City of Chicago 2011 nick pea via Flickr

Why Urban Agriculture? Food security Food access Education Reinvestment Green space Labor/Land Ratio Copyright City of Chicago 2011 nick pea via Flickr

History of Urban Agriculture in Chicago Victory Gardens (1930/40s) Cook County Sheriff’s Garden (1989) Growing Home (1992) City Farm (2000) Growing Power (2002) Cob Connection (2007) Copyright City of Chicago 2010 nick pea via Flickr Nothing to date is an official commercial garden

Urban Agriculture “By Right” Copyright City of Chicago 2010 Commercial vs. Community Garden Principle vs. Accessory Use pteracantha via Flickr

Zoning Code Overview A key goal of zoning codes is to limit conflicting and incompatible uses. Copyright City of Chicago 2010 Districts: -Residential -Commercial -Manufacturing -Public Open Space -Downtown -Shopping -Planned Manufacturing

Process for Amending Chicago Zoning Code Copyright City of Chicago Presented at City Council 2.Referred to appropriate Committee for deliberation 3.Addressed by Committee at their meeting, at which time there is the public hearing (tentatively May 2011???) 4.Adopted after Committee makes decision and “reports out” in full Council, it is then registered in Council proceedings

Proposed Zoning for Community Gardens Permitted uses in: Parks and Open Space (POS) 1&2 Residential (R) Business (B) Commercial (C) Downtown (D) Use standards: Site area – max. 18,750 square feet Incidental sales may be permitted on-site Accessory structures – max. 10% of site area or 100 sq. ft. (whichever is greater, does not include hoophouses) Copyright City of Chicago 2010

Proposed Zoning for Commercial Gardens Permitted uses in: Business (B3) Commercial (C1, C2 & C3) Manufacturing (M2 & M3) Planned Manufacturing District (PMD 9, 10 & 13) Use standards: Accessory retail sales of goods produced on site – max sq. ft. (In M and PMD) Parking requirement of 1 space per 3 employees or more by parking determination Existing screening and corresponding district standards and landscape ordinance requirements apply Copyright City of Chicago 2010

Interdepartmental Process (2010-ongoing) Compost (DOE) –Principle Use –Accessory Commercial Use Human Health Exposure (DHED/DOE) –Community and Commercial Gardens –Brownfields Environmental Protocol Livestock (DPH & DOB) –Fish and Bees Food Enterprises (DHED, DOB, DPH, Law) –Shared-use Kitchens, Food Peddlers, Mobile Food Carts, etc. Copyright City of Chicago 2010

Compost – Principle vs. Accessory Use Copyright City of Chicago 2010 Allows commercial food scrap composting as a Class III Recycling Facility operation: – M3 Zoning; or – M2 Zoning and Special Use Variance – Application Fee - $3,000 – Permit Term – 3 Years – Allows anaerobic digestion technology Land and Lakes

Exposure - Brownfield Environmental Protocols Copyright City of Chicago 2010 Historic contamination across city Guidelines, required for leasing or owning (via Land Trust) for City-owned land Decision tree process for ensuring the site is safe to grow food

Copyright City of Chicago Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) Is the land suitable for urban ag use? Are there any Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs)? Historic Paper Study 2.Phase II ESA Where is the contamination? Will it require remediation or capping? Soil and groundwater sampling and analysis 3.IEPAs Site Remediation Program Obtain No Further Remediation (NFR) Letter Only if land will owned, not leased Brownfield Environmental Protocols

Bottom Line - Minimize Exposure Pathway to Public Create risk-based barriers to prevent exposures pathways (i.e. ingestion) These barriers typically do not meet VAP requirements. However, they prevent accepted VAP barriers from being breached.

Concerns Raised on Both Sides Copyright City of Chicago 2010 ADVOCATES Commercial gardens not allowed in residential zones Size and sale restrictions on community gardens Prohibition of gardens from accepting off-site composting materials RESIDENTS May not want to live next to a large commercial garden; note commercial garden includes hydroponic facilities and greenhouses Many are wary of composting, livestock, foot traffic, noise, machinery, etc.

The Future: The Plant Copyright City of Chicago 2010 The Plant is a project combining adaptive industrial reuse and aquaponics to create Chicago’s first vertical farm.

Thank You Zach Clayton Chicago Department of Environment Urban Management and Brownfields Redevelopment 30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 200 Chicago, IL sreiny via Flickr City of Chicago Richard M. Daley, Mayor