(Sorry, couldn’t resist the pun. )

A bunch of us have been working with the city planning department and planning committee to have Urban Agriculture defined and included as part of the new Official Plan for the City of Kingston.  We are thrilled to report that our suggested definition of urban agriculture  ” generally undertaken by individuals, and non-profit community organizations, and may take place on rooftops, in backyards and open spaces, and as community gardens.” has been adopted as the official definition for the City in the draft of the Official Plan.

Other mentions of UA in the draft are

• Urban Agriculture is designated as a Community Facility, along with Libraries, Community Centres, Fire Stations, Gov’t Offices, etc, in Section 3.2.8 (pg52). “Community based initiatives such as commuinty gardens and other forms of urban agriculture, and reforestation projects are permitted in all land use designations, subject to site by site evaluation.”
• In Section 3.8.2(b), UA, community gardens, and garden plots are specifically listed as permitted uses.

WE STILL NEED YOUR SUPPORT.  Please write to your own coucillor and  to the councillors on the planning committee and let them know how much you support this initiative.  Below is a short suggested letter – FEEL FREE TO WORD IT HOWEVER YOU LIKE – and a list of the email addresses of the Planning Committee. And of course, the mayor.

Urban Agriculture/Food Production in the Official Plan

Dear Members of the Planning Committee

I would like to applaud and congratulate you on your adoption of several references to and your support for Urban Agriculture in the draft Official Plan, including its formal definition, its designation as a Community Facility, and the support of community gardens and garden plots.

I think this move is fantastic and will be of great benefit to the development of a sustainable food system in the City of Kingston. Integration of Urban Agriculture can improve the City’s food security, as well as the health of its citizens and the well-being of its economy and environment. There is already a growing movement toward local production and consumption of food across the province, the nation and the world. This move demonstrates that the City of Kingston is indeed striving to become ‘the Most Sustainable City’.

Once again I applaud your efforts and I thank you for your support. I look forward to liaising with you on future Urban Agriculture initiatives.

Sincerely,

send those cards and letters (and email) to

Vicki Schmolka  vschmolka@cityofkingston.ca
Steve Garrison  sgarrison@cityofkingston.ca
Bill Glover  bglover@cityofkingston.ca
Dorothy Hector  dhector@cityofkingston.ca
Ed Smith  esmith@cityofkingston.ca
Lisa Osanic  losanic@cityofkingston.ca
Harvey Rosen  hrosen@cityofkingston.ca