Urban Agriculture Pilot Project Mayor’s Office, DND, & BRA

Urban Agriculture Pilot Project Mayor’s Office, DND, & BRA

Boston Redevelopment AuthorityJanuary 26, 2010 Boston Redevelopment AuthorityJanuary 26, 2010

Main Topics

• Mayor’s Food Initiative

• Pilot Project on City Land

• Rezoning

Mayor’s Food Initiative

Goals & Objectives of Mayor’s Food Initiative

1. Increase access to affordable and healthy food, particularly in those communities that are currently underserved.

2. Promote greater economic opportunity and self-sufficiency, including increasing the capacity of Boston residents and business to grow and distribute local, healthy food;

3. Increase education and knowledge around healthy  eating and food production, particularly among youth. 

   

Health Concerns

• The rate at which U.S. children are contracting chronic health conditions due to obesity and other risk factors more than doubled from 12.8 percent in 1994 to 26.6 percent in 2006.

• Obesity is associated with a significantly higher incidence of diabetes and heart disease.

Adult Obesity by Boston Neighborhood, 2008

The citywide percentage of obese adults was 23%.

Why South Dorchester/Mattapan?

DND Properties in South Dorchester/Mattapan for Interim Use

131 Glenway St  

11,443 sf

18-24 Standish St 8,810 sf

23-29 Tucker St

18,625 sf

Ballou Ave

19,970 sf

DND Land

Ballou Avenue – 19.970 sf

131 Glenway Street – 11,443 sf

23-29 Tucker Avenue – 18,625 sf

18-24 Standish Street – 8,810 sf

Available DND Land

131 Glenway St:  

11,443 square ft.

Available DND Land

18-24 Standish St.: 8,810 sf

Available DND Land

Ballou Ave:

19,970 square ft.

Available DND Land

23-29 Tucker St:

18,625 sf

What could urban agriculture mean on these properties?

Example of a Hoop House

Why Rezone?

• Although gardening is allowed, farming (farming in order to sell produce) is currently not allowed in Boston under the Zoning Code.

• If we want to allow farming, we have to amend the Zoning Code.

Zoning Neighborhoods

Greater Mattapan Neighborhood District

Proposed Zoning Language: What would be allowed By Right

SECTION 60-28 Establishment of Urban Agriculture Overlay Districts. This section 60-28 establishes Urban Agriculture Overlay Districts (“UAOD”) as overlays to underlying sub-districts within the Greater Mattapan Neighborhood District. UAODs are established to improve public health and environmental sustainability and promote economic development by supporting the local production of fresh food. UAODs shall consist of land appropriate for and limited to: a) the cultivation of plants, herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables, including the cultivation and tillage of soil and the production, cultivation, growing and harvesting of any agricultural, floricultural or horticultural commodity; and, b) composting (the accelerated biodegradation and stabilization of organic material under controlled conditions for beneficial garden use) only of materials produced on site. The cultivation of any and all edible produce shall comply with all applicable federal, State and City requirements.

Next Steps

• Public Hearing before BRA Board on February 10, 2011, 5:30 p.m., 9th Floor, Room 900, City Hall

• Issue Request for Proposals• Receive and review proposals • Select proponents • BRA Board public hearing• Zoning Commission public hearing• Goal: To plant for 2011 growing season

Contact Information

• BRA Web page:

http://miniurl.com/BRARezoneUrbanAgriculture/• Edith Murnane, Director of Food Initiatives,

Mayor’s Office

Edith.Murnane@cityofboston.gov• Tad (John) Read, Senior Planner, BRA

John.Read.BRA@cityofboston.gov• Andria Post-Ergun, Senior Landscape Architect,

DND

APost.DND@cityofboston.gov