Marice Ashe, JD, MPH Director RMLUI 2010 | Eat your greens! Planning policies to support healthy food systems

What do land use policies have to do with food systems?

market forces + public policy = “food landscape”

Source: California Center for Public Health Advocacy, “Searching For Healthy Food: The Food Landscape In California Cities and Counties” CA’s Food Retail Environment Source: CA Center for Public Health Advocacy,

CA’s Food Retail Environment Source: CA Center for Public Health Advocacy,

CA’s Food Retail Environment Source: CA Center for Public Health Advocacy,

Source: USDA Food Environment Atlas, Percent of US households without a car and > 1 mile to a grocery store

Supermarket proximity is associated with a better diet. Limited access to fast food for schoolchildren is associated with better diet. Policy can reverse these statistics Healthy Eating Research Brief 2008; Davis & Carpenter 2009; Active Living Research Brief 2007

“Promoting the concept of a “foodshed” — a diversified, regional food economy — could be the key to improving the American diet. “

Creating Healthy Food System Policy  Lay the groundwork Share information and build partnerships

 Lay the groundwork: Share information and build partnerships  Assess existing health conditions Collect food system data and conduct environmental audits Creating Healthy Food System Policy

 Lay the groundwork Share information and build partnerships  Assess existing health conditions Collect food system data and conduct environmental audits  Adopt policies Support local food system development Creating Healthy Food System Policy

 Lay the groundwork Share information and build partnerships  Assess existing health conditions Collect food system data and conduct environmental audits  Adopt policies Support local food system development  Ensure that the plan’s goals are implemented - Develop indicators and standards - Update zoning and design guidelines - Use economic development tools as incentives - Implement healthy development review criteria Creating Healthy Food System Policy

Step 1 Laying the Groundwork

Building relationships & Collaborative Partnerships Photo courtesy of WALKSan Diego

2 Assess 1 Step

Measuring access to healthy food District of Columbia | Office of Planning

Walking Time to Large/Chain Grocer

3 Adopt 21 Step

Update Plans and Policies Support access to and long-term tenure of land for local food system activities

Set standards and priorities for improving food access in underserved neighborhoods

“The Blueprint for Future Development” Statement of development policies Comprehensive Plans

Types of healthy general plan policies, by location

Policy Language Good: Policy 1.0: Encourage the development of community gardens to increase residents’ access to healthy foods Better: Policy 1.1: Establish 1 community garden for every 2,500 households in an urban village and urban center (Seattle, WA)

POLICY Promote healthy neighborhoods and community by encouraging neighborhood convenience stores to carry healthy food such as fresh fruits and vegetables. WATSONVILLE, CA Policy Language

POLICY Condition neighborhood markets (convenience stores) at the time of development review to incorporate the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables. WATSONVILLE, CA Implementation

Condition neighborhood markets (convenience stores) at the time of development review to devote 10 percent of the store’s shelf space to the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables. SAMPLE Strengthen implementation

Step 4 Implement 21

Create a targeted grocery attraction and improvement strategy Help with location and expansion, and streamlining fees and permitting processes, provide grants/loans

Outreach to small markets Offer incentives and assistance: façade improvements; infrastructure; business planning, WIC/Food Stamp participation; link to distribution channels

Plan for urban agriculture Zone for gardens as defined and allowed use Comprehensive planning and redevelopment opportunities Require developers to provide set-asides

Plan for farmers’ markets Zone for markets as defined and allowed use Comprehensive planning and redevelopment opportunities Streamline fees and permitting

Mobile Vending Incentivize healthy vending Restrict unhealthy vending Support small-scale entrepreneurs

Create a balanced food environment Zoning can be used to restrict fast food outlets Restrictions: Quotas, Density, Distance Bans: Fast food/drive thru, “formula” restaurant

Resources

Fact SheetsModel Policies