Urban Agriculture Policy Plan

A draft of the new Urban Agriculture Policy Plan is now available for Public Review and comments until January 31.

This plan represents a significant part of the work of the Homegrown Minneapolis effort I have been helping lead for many months as co-chair of the Homegrown Minneapolis Implementation Task Force. If you are interest in more opportunities for growing, or processing or eating, more food produces in the City please take some time to read the draft plan.

The plan is a land use policy guide for urban agriculture in Minneapolis and and contains recommendations related to land use, zoning, access to land, design options and allowing farming in the city.

The development of the Urban Agriculture Policy Plan was a directive from the City Council when the Homegrown Minneapolis Report was adopted in June of 2009.

Two community meetings will be held to discuss the content of the plan:

• Tuesday, January 11, from 6:30PM to 8:00PM at the Sabathani Community Center (3rd Floor) 310 E. 38th Street
• Thursday, January 20, from 2:00 to 3:30 at North Central Library, 1315 Lowry Ave. N.Background

Comments and concerns about the plan should be directed to me or to: Amanda Arnold, Principal Planner, Minneapolis Department of Community Planning & Economic Development Planning Division, 250 South 4th St., Rm 110, Minneapolis MN 55415.

You can also submit feedback by responding to a short survey about the plan here.

All comments will become part of the public record and be included in a report that will be forwarded to the City Planning Commission when they consider the adoption of the plan. A public hearing is tentatively set for February 22, 2011 in City Hall, Room 317, during the City Planning Commission meeting.

After adoption by the City Planning Commission, the plan will be forwarded to the City Council for adoption and will be amended to the Comprehensive Plan.

My Policy Aide, and sometimes blogger here , Robin Garwood, has been chairing the Urban Agriculture Policy Plan Steering Committee and this has been a major priority of his, and mine, throughout 2009.

It is very exciting to see it reach this level and it is very important that people with interest and expertise in local foods take the time to review the plan now before the final draft is written and before it is approved by the Council later and incorporated into the City's comprehensive plan, the Minneapolis Plan for Sustainable Growth.