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Home My WebLink About01/19/2021 05 Background Report on Community Garden Standards to\'4\lyy tbxk ik 1 PP +� d1-:41P P p PPi ittYlltYlt.\ta. BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 5. For Meeting of: January 19, 2021 ITEM TITLE: Background Report on Community Garden Standards SUBMITTED BY: Joan Davenport, Community Development Director Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager Ken Wilkinson, Parks Manager SUMMARY EXPLANATION: At the January 5, 2021 City Council meeting, staff was directed to provide background material related to the rules for Community Gardens in the City of Yakima. To assist with City Council discussion, staff has provided a brief transmittal memo which includes Yakima Municipal Code (YMC 15.09.120, Community Garden Development Standards. ITEM BUDGETED: NA STRATEGIC PRIORITY: APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION: Provide direction for any requested follow-up on this topic. ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type L mama on co minty gardens 1/12J2021 r Memo 2 MEMORANDUM To: Honorable Mayor, City Council members and City Manager From: Joan Davenport, Community Development Director Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager Ken Wilkinson, Parks Manager Subject: Community Garden Development Standards Date: January 19, 2021 City Council Meeting At the January 5, 2021 City Council meeting, staff was directed to provide at the next City Council meeting, information related to Community Gardens in the City of Yakima.The City Zoning Ordinance (Yakima Municipal Code, YMC Title 15) includes standards for shared or community garden spaces in every zoning district with a few exceptions (Regional Development Zone and Heavy Industrial Zone). As you will note from the General Purpose statement of YMC 15.09.120, the standards are intended to be minimal,encourage and allow private or public land to host community gardens. Likewise,the standards are intended to ensure that the gardens are compatible with the adjoining land uses and not have negative environmental impacts to the area.There are a number of management related requirements in the City Code including a maintenance plan, agreement or written permission from owner, and a site plan that identifies plots inside the garden and others. An existing land use (for example: a church, non-profit, or business) may choose to host a community garden as an accessory use on land they control. In this example,the community garden is a permitted, Class 1 use in all zoning districts.The conditions listed below would still apply, but the review may be streamlined. If a resident choses to host a small community garden with a planting area of less than a quarter-acre,these are also Class 1 uses. A community garden of more than a quarter-acre in size requires Class 2 review which includes notice to properties within 300 feet for comment. City property, including park property and other sites, has also been discussed as a potential option for a community garden. While the growing of food on public land may seem like an appealing idea,there are a number of considerations that may limit the feasibility of this concept. Property liability, maintenance of plants/watering/weeding,exclusivity of individual plots to a select number of parties,and park security are some of these issues. Changes to the Yakima Zoning Ordinance (YMC 15) are subject to review by the City Planning Commission and a public participation process. � City of Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 15.09.120CKD00munUty garden development standards.P SHARE A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish minimal development standards for community gardens which allow private groups or neighborhoods to use privately or publicly owned lands to establish a garden for the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, or herbs that is maintained by the group members who may or may not have ownership in the subject property. These standards are intended to assure that the established community gardens are compatible with adjoining land uses, the character of the district in which they are located, and will not otherwise have any unmitigated negative environmental impacts. B. Review Process. Community gardens shall follow either the Type (1) or Type (2) review processes ao specified byY&4C Chapters l5.l3 and 15.14. and l5.04 Table 4'1' Permitted Land Uses. C. Additional Type (1) and (2) Review Submittal Requirements for Community Gardens. Applications for community gardens shall include, but are not limited to, a "memorandum of understanding (MOU)"or"agreement" between the city and applicant, which includes the following elements: 1. Right of operatingluse agreement, between the property owner and sponsoring organization, which includes: term of use, location and size of planting area(s), and supporting uses and/or structures. These items shall be shown on a site plan that meets the requirements uf the site plan checklist, specified inY&4C Chapter l6.11. o. The term of the above required right of operatingluse agreement shall be a minimum of one year; however, none of the implementing regulations which govern community gardens shall prevent anapplicant from submitting an agreement with a term that extends beyond this minimum requirement; 2. Sponsoring organization name, contact information, etc.; 3. Rules established for the prohibition of selling goods and produce grown on site: i.e., produce grown on site may not besold; 4. Rules established for the use of herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers should be contained on site, and used in accordance with label instructions and generally accepted horticultural practices; 5. Maintenance procedures and regulations established for the control of weeds, garbage, standing water, odors associated with composting, the identification of how garden waste will be dealt with (on-site composting or hauled away), and the proposed winterization of the garden; 8. Water/irrigation: indication of method of providing water (i.e., certificate of availability), and indication n[water runoff prevention; * 7. Rules established for the use of equipment/tools, sheds (storage of hazardous materials, io, fodi|iroro)' and other structures; B. Hours of operation which conform to the provisions of YMC 6.04.1 SO(E) in terms of hours n1 operation, and intensity nfnoise. D. Required Parking. 1. Total Number of Required Parking Spaces. The total number of required parking spaces for each type nf community garden shall beonfollows: a) Community gardens (accessory tnan approved principal uoo): none. h) Community gardens (with planting area of one-quarter acre or less): none. u) Community gardens (with planting area of more than one-quarter acre and up to one- halfaoro): kvonpaoon. d) Community gardens (with planting area of more than one-half acre up to one acre): four spaces. 2. Surfacing. Required parking for community gardens shall consist of an unpaved surface of compacted gravel. 3. Dimensions. The area of each parking space shall be no smaller than nine feet by nineteen feet. 4. Shared Parking. Community gardens may share parking with a nearby use/business in accordance with YK8C15.05.O5O. 5. Administrative Adjustment of Parking Authorized. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in Chapter 15.10 YMC, the total number of parking spaces for community gardens may be administratively adjusted under the provisions of YMC Chapter 15.10, as the parking standards for community gardens are codified under both the provisions of YMC Chapters 15.06 and 16.O8. E. Accessory Structures. Accessory structures for community gardens are permitted as an accessory use to a community garden or as otherwise permitted under the provisions of Y&4C l6.O4.O88' and an described below: a) Community gardens (accessory toan approved principal use): a. Accessory structures one hundred twenty square feet or less are permitted in accordance with Y&4C15.O5.O2U(E)(2). b) Community gardens (with planting area of one-quarter acre up to one acre): a. Accessory structures one hundred twenty square feet or less are permitted in accordance with Y&4C15.O5.O2U(E)(2); and s b. Accessory structures larger than one hundred twenty square feet are permitted in accordance with Y&4C 15.O5.O2U(E)(1) and building permit issuance. K]n|. 20lG'O29 § l (Enh. A) (part)` 2O1O: Ord. 2O14'O]O § 4. 2O14).