Table of Contents

Food Systems

Grayfields Reuse and Redevelopment

Solar Energy

Urban Agriculture

Urban Livestock

Grayfields Reuse and Redevelopment

The city's zoning code requires that, for a building permit to be issued for a Large-Format Retail Development (50 thousand square feet or more), the building owner must contribute to the Land Conservation Fund. The amount is determined by the project’s retail area. When the facility is vacated, the owner or operator must present the plan commission with a plan for removing or reusing the facility. If no viable plan can be made, the city may utilize the Land Conservation Fund to act to reuse or redevelop the facility. This is intended to prevent ghost boxes (§24.09.090.I).

Solar Energy

The city's zoning code addresses solar energy systems in its chapter on accessory and temporary uses (§24.10.030). It allows accessory solar energy systems in all districts and provides standards for building-mounted and ground-mounted systems that address location, setbacks, and height.

The code exempts solar energy equipment from screening requirements (§24.12.040).

The code also provides definitions for a number of solar-related terms (§24.18.020).

Food Systems | Urban Agriculture

The city’s zoning code addresses urban agriculture. It defines community garden within the agricultural use category (§24.08.060). It permits community gardens by right in most districts, with conditional use approval required in certain special-purpose districts (§24.07.030).

The code provides standards for community gardens that address setbacks, structures, drainage, on-site sales, and winter maintenance (§24.09.080).

Food Systems | Urban Livestock

The city code's animal regulations chapter addresses domestic keeping of chickens in the city (§9.04.050–060). An annual permit and fee is required, as well as written permission from abutting neighbors; a site plan is required. Up to 4 chickens may be kept subject to standards, including prohibitions on roosters and slaughtering, and requirements for coop design, construction, sanitation, size, location, and setbacks. The code also includes public health requirements.

The animal ordinance also allows for the keeping of 2 hives of honey bees in residential districts (§9.04.070–080). The code offers definitions and provides standards for beekeeping operations, addressing flyway barriers and hive location and setbacks. An annual permit and fee is required, along with written neighbor consent, a site plan, and required inspection.

The city website provides brief information on the chicken-keeping permit.