Farming advocates joined city residents to hear key elements of Boston’s plan for potential zoning changes to allow for more widespread urban agriculture in neighborhoods Monday night.
Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) officials presented overhauled restrictions on composting, hen and bee keeping, soil safety and farmer’s markets at a public meeting regarding the proposed urban agriculture zoning, known as Article 89, at Suffolk University Law School.
Following a national trend, more and more Bostonians are getting their hands dirty with urban farming. However, many agricultural activities are not allowed under current zoning.
"Most of the vegetables we get in Boston are transported from California or Central America," said Tad Read, a BRA senior planner. "Urban farming will give Bostonians access to fresh, affordable and healthy produce."
Urban farming will increase community security and resilience, employment and beautify local neighborhoods, according to Read.
If approved, the new zoning will allow green thumbs to utilize underused vacant lots and rooftops, according to Kairos Shen, chief planner for the BRA.
The city’s development arm also created a comprehensive farm review (CFR) to ensure urban farms are designed to be good neighbors. A CFR will take up to 45 days. Once a review is before the BRA, residents living within a 300-foot radius of the proposed agricultural use will have 14 days to voice opposition should they wish to, Read said.
The proposed zoning changes would allow ground-level farms of less than one acre and rooftop farms of less than 5,000 square feet to be permitted anywhere in the city. The process for starting a farm may require obtaining special permits, but it would not involve a public hearing.
Ground-level farms larger than one acre would be allowed in industrially zoned areas. In all other areas, establishing ground-level farms bigger than one acre would require notifying neighbors and holding a public hearing and review process.
Under Article 89, all farms would be required to meet certain soil standards. Farmers would be required to test soil, ensuring no previous contamination so produce grown can be consumed safely.
Although the proposed zoning received support from some in the audience, others raised concerns. Victoria Nadel, a Roxbury resident, was worried about roosters. "If we are only allowed to raise hens, what do we do with the roosters?" Nadel asked.
Karan Doczi, an advocate at Legalize Chickens in Boston, said roosters efficiently decrease tick populations. Doczi suggested the BRA could transfer roosters to Boston Harbor Islands, where the tick population is a serious concern.
However, the BRA’s senior planner Read said the agency currently has no solution for the rooster issue, but will consider relocating the roosters elsewhere.
