In neighborhoods across the city, there is significant interest and great need in activating blighted City-owned lots and unused private land for the purposes of growing food and creating green spaces. Many cities across the country have or are looking to implement far-reaching land use policies that recognize urban food growing as a vital community benefit. We believe Los Angeles has the political leadership and community support to take similar steps. We encourage the City to incentivize urban food growing when and where appropriate by providing greater access to public and private land resources through the following recommendations:
1. AB 551: Create an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone that includes the entire City of LA. Work with the County to create a streamlined, accessible process for property owners to realize tax incentives by allowing urban farming on their properties for five years.
2. Edible Parkways (CF 13-0478 Part 1:
http://bit.ly/1rw4UEX): Update the Municipal Code and parkway landscaping guidelines and work with the Office of the City Attorney to clarify pending liability concerns.
3. List of City-owned vacant lands (CF 13-0478 Part 2): Publish inventory of City-owned vacant land. By making this information available to the public, non-profits, city staff and other jurisdictions will be able to better identify opportunities and resources community gardens and urban farms.
4. Plan for Healthy Los Angeles: Adopt the Plan’s objectives and strategies to expand urban agriculture and remove barriers to resident food growing projects
