Samuel H. Sage, Paul M. Harris & Hongbin Gao ATLANTIC STATES LEGAL FOUNDATION, INC. Growing Power's National-International Urban & Small Farm Conference

About ASLF New York based not-for-profit, headquartered in the Near Westside area in the City of Syracuse Established in 1982 to provide legal, technical, and organizational services to individuals and organizations dealing with environmental issues Has been taking a leading role in protection and restoration of Syracuse waterways and addressing CSO issues Is incorporating innovative strategies to improve economic, social, and environmental sustainability in urban life

Planning Issues for Urban America Air & Water Pollution Population Shifting Crime Food Deserts Vacancy Insufficient Urban Green Space Climate Change and Basic Living High Unemployment Transportation

Urban Agriculture’s Potential Roles in Today’s Urban Life Environmental Reduce energy consumption for and emissions from food transportation Preserve urban open/green space Reduce urban heat islands Mitigate stormwater runoff Increase biodiversity

Urban Agriculture’s Potential Roles in Today’s Urban Life Socially Implement food justice strategies and improve food security, particularly for underserved inner city communities Bring about social cohesiveness and create a sense of community Reduce crime rate Introduce healthier food and life style

Urban Agriculture’s Potential Roles in Today’s Urban Life Economically Create jobs for urban dwellers from all socioeconomic backgrounds Create local business Reduce transportation Reduce energy cost

The Impacts Economically draining for city Lower property values Visual quality degradation High rates of crime and arson Public health issues Property Value Degradation around A Vacant Property Source: Temple University Center for Public Policy and Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project. “Blight Free Philadelphia: A Public-Private Strategy to Create and Enhance Neighborhood Value.” Philadelphia, 2001.

The Opportunities Urban agriculture Stormwater retention Public green space Urban infill development Urban forestry Habitat creation and conservation A Vegetable Garden on A Former Vacant Lot in Cleveland, OH Source:

The Benefits of Reclaiming Urban Vacant Land Produce fresh food Create jobs Beautify community Mitigate pollution Reduce crime Introduce healthy life style Increase property value Reduce heat island effect Create and conserve urban open space Save municipal cost on maintenance Revitalize inner city community

CaseStudy Case Study

Background: The Issue Onondaga Lake, one of the most polluted lakes in North America

Background: The Issue (cont.) Diagram of a Combined Sewer Overflow System. Adapted from “CSOs Explained” Official City of Bremerton Site. Municipal Source of Pollution: Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)

The Process: ACJ ASLF and the NYS-DEC 1988 lawsuit against Onondaga County under the Clean Water Act METRO Consent Judgment Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ, January 1998) The key legal document Outlined two dozen projects for the County Extensive monitoring program

The Process: The 4 th Stip to ACJ 2009 The court order requires Onondaga County to use GRAY and GREEN infrastructure addressing CSOs Gray Infrastructure: Commitment to 88.7% annual volume capture in by 2013 Green Infrastructure (GI): Commitment to an additional 6.3% annual volume capture in Green Infrastructure commencing immediately in 2009, resulting in 95% total annual volume capture by 2018

The Solution: Save the Rain (STR) A GI program created by the County Encompasses the storm water and GI initiatives Educates the public about issues and how they can use and benefit from GI Initiatives GI on public land Green Improvement Fund: GI on private land Rain Barrel Program Urban Forestry Program STR-Vacant Lot Program (VLP)

VLP Program Goals Reduce minimum of 9 million gallons of CSO by 2018 with GI on publicly owned vacant lots Provide different forms of GREEN infrastructure projects for Save The Rain Simultaneously reclaim greenspace in a useful way and improve value of vacant lots to community Engage public in GI maintenance for Save The Rain

Syracuse Vacant Lot Inventory 3,668 vacant parcels in the City of Syracuse (2012 data) 1,786 vacant parcels (392 ac.) in combined sewer service area where GI projects are required for managing stormwater and CSO’s 828 publicly owned vacant parcels which could be potentially used Vacant Lots in the City of Syracuse.

Syracuse Vacant Lot Inventory 814 of 828 public vacant parcels are under City ownership OwnershipNYSCounty City of Syracuse Total City Owned City TD City Agencies Seizable Parcels Inventory Parcels Acreage Candidates Parcels Acreage

VLP: A Joint Venture Between Onondaga County and City of Syracuse Initiated in 2011 by Onondaga County Funded by Onondaga County to built GI projects on City owned vacant lots Developed collaboratively to fit under both governments’ immediate planning goals Based on the agreement that defines the County’s and the City’s responsibilities in O&M of the VLP projects Developed and coordinated by ASLF The City of Syracuse Ordinance that depicts the City-County Agreement on installing GI on the City properties

VLP’s Reclamation Typologies Urban Orchard Community Garden (Ornamental or Vegetable) Urban Forest/Tree Planting Combined with other GI practices such as rain garden, cistern, bioswale, stormwater planter, etc. to manage stormwater runoff VLP Pilot Project Rendering: Urban Orchard at 701 Oswego Street, Syracuse, New York

VLP Pilot Project: Urban Orchard at 701 Oswego Street, Syracuse, New York BeforeAfter VLP Projects: 2011

VLP Projects: 2012 Project Status Concept Phase Field Work Phase 50% Design Phase Bid PhaseTotal Number of Projects

Community Involvement in VLP Outreach to general public and communities near project sites Coordination with community in planning & design process (community meetings, design workshops) Community participation in maintenance (organized to ensure the quality of performance) Green job training and job creation

Further Needs and Challenges Long-term ownership and O&M mechanism Alternatives Under public ownership Under private ownership and operation Land Trust model O&M Produce Taxes Utilities

Further Needs and Challenges Public acceptance and involvement in projects Safety issues related to urban farming on abandoned land Lawn VS Native Garden Tree(s) VS Forest An integral planning process to incorporate all stakeholders’ interests and meet their needs, particularly for urban agriculture typologies under VLP

Discussion

Legitimize the Process Adaptation of Zoning and Land Use Policy Adaptation of Food Policy Guidelines for Growing Safe Food (on Potentially Contaminated Vacant Land) Incorporation of Urban Agriculture in Urban Planning Agenda

Identify and Engage Key Stakeholders Different levels of government Relevant departments and professionals Local leaders and councils Private sector Landowners Academic organizations or research institutes NGOs, social movements, grassroots and religious organizations

Develop/Adopt Appropriate Urban Agriculture Types for Vacant Lot Management Community Garden Allotment Garden Urban Commercial Farm Side-yard Garden School Garden

For More Information Atlantic States Legal Foundation, Inc. 658 West Onondaga Street, Syracuse, New York Onondaga County Save The Rain Program