Urban agriculture, farming and even gardening can mean different things to different people. The city will host an informal, public discussion on these topics on Wednesday, June 29.
The roundtable discussion will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the city’s Department of Public Works building, 150 S. Kendall St.
While the conversation will be informal and lightly facilitated, staff’s intent is to collect feedback on the dynamics of an ordinance regulating these activities, including interest and/or opposition generally, as well as at a deeper and more specific level.
The city would like to determine the community’s level of interest in things like gardening for personal use on vacant parcels, small roadside fruit/vegetable stands, backyard chickens, and the potential for small-scale farming as a commercial use. Currently these types of activities are allowed only in limited zoning districts as a permitted use, and elsewhere as a special use with very strict limitations.
We also invite everyone to complete a survey on these urban agriculture activities. We plan to use all the feedback as we consider the possibility of expanding the amount of type of agriculture-related uses allowable on residential properties in the city. Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BY8PJ36
Can’t make the conversation event? Drop us a line with your feedback, ideas and comments at PublicInput@battlecreekmi.gov.