The City has been approached by members of the Environmental Committee to consider allowing urban agriculture as a permitted use. Urban agriculture can provide health, social, economic and environmental benefits, by providing access to nutritious, locally-grown food, opportunities for community and social involvement, a wider range of economic opportunities and can contribute to decreased stormwater runoff and increased urban biodiversity.
Although similar, an urban agriculture use is not the same as a community garden use. The City Council adopted the community gardens ordinance in February 2013. A community garden is a recreational, non-commercial, not-for-profit land use. Urban agriculture is a commercial, for-profit land use. The City has not had a tradition of agricultural activity and the Comprehensive Plan does not address agriculture as a land use.
The proposed ordinance amends the Future Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan to allow urban agriculture as a use in the Low Density Residential, Low Medium Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, High Density Residential, Downtown, Downtown Core, Residential/Office, Residential/Office/Retail, General Commercial, Highway Commercial, Light Industrial, Recreation/Open Space and Public/Semi-Public Future Land Use Categories. “Urban agriculture” as defined as “agricultural activity, including the cultivation, processing and distribution of plants and other food products. This use may include horticulture, indoor crop production (including aeroponic, aquaponic or hydroponic systems) and wholesale and/or retail sales. The raising and processing of livestock is prohibited.” Staff concluded that prohibiting the keeping of livestock was appropriate, as such activity could become a nuisance due to the relatively small size of City lots. Urban agriculture use is proposed to be further limited via regulations provided in the Land Development Code to prevent or mitigate negative impacts to surrounding development (see companion Ordinance #2016-2073).
The amendments also provide a goal, objective and policies to address urban agriculture development in the City, promoting the use “as a strategy to make New Port Richey a more sustainable urban community, to provide additional economic development opportunities and to address residents’ access to fresh, locally-grown food.” The ordinance has been reviewed by the Environmental Committee and it has endorsed it at its February 15th meeting.
The Land Development Review Board reviewed the ordinance at its March 17, 2016 meeting. The motion to approve the ordinance, amended to prohibit urban agriculture in front yards, failed.
The proposed new language is shown with underlining and deleted language is shown with strikethrough.
Compatibility with Comprehensive Plan:
The proposal is consistent with the following Comprehensive Plan goals, objectives and policies:
- CON Goal 1 - Conserve, protect, manage and restore the City’s natural resources to promote a sustainable environment that supports a healthy population.
- CON Objective 1.3 - Protect the quality and quantity of surface waters and groundwater.
- FLU Goal 1 - To promote compatible land uses which will maximize, enhance and preserve New Port Richey’s unique and attractive characteristics in a manner consistent with the economic, physical, ecological and social needs, capabilities and desires of the community.
- FLU Policy 1.10.5 - The Land Development Code shall include provisions which addresses and limits activities with the potential to contaminate water, soil or air.
- LIV Objective 1.4 - Reduce consumption of non-renewable resources and minimize waste and pollution in order to promote a more healthy, productive and sustainable community.
- LIV Policy 1.4.6 - Minimize the amount of sites dedicated to impervious surfaces.