Urban agriculture, farming and even gardening can mean different things to different people. The city will host a second, informal, public discussion on these topics on Tuesday, Aug. 30, likely focusing on the potential of keeping small farm animals on city properties.
The roundtable discussion will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Sanitas Conference Center, lower level entrance A at Grace Health, 181 W. Emmett St. Park in front of the main building; overflow parking is available in the empty lot across Emmett Street.
The conversation will be informal and lightly facilitated, as was the first discussion.
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.
View more information on urban agriculture in the city at our website, www.battlecreekmi.gov. Under Your Government, navigate to Community Services, Planning & Zoning, then scroll down to Urban Agriculture. Several documents are available, including the results of our public survey on these topics. 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.
Can’t make the conversation event? Drop us a line with your feedback, ideas and comments at PublicInput@battlecreekmi.gov.