MAKE URBAN FARMING IN PG COUNTY MD GREAT...ER!! - PHASE 2
- by: Doug Adams
Prince George's County MD Residents and the Greater Washington DC Metro Area at large!
Alongside the social efforts of the PG County Food Equity Council and entrepreneurial efforts of Mt. Rainier, MD-based urban farm/green event space New Brooklyn Farms, PG County District 2 Council Member Deni Taveras is looking to raise public awareness, interest & support as she continues to spearhead legislation that will promote urban farming in the backyard of the nation's capital and demystify answers to the below questions around it:
- What is an "Urban Farm"?
- What types of enterprise or activities are/aren't considered "Urban Farming" or "Urban Agriculture"?
- What current and pending legislation exists around urban farming in PG County?
- What benefits can urban farming contribute to our local communities & global environment?
The multitude of progressive environmental, economic, and social assets that this young and dynamic subset of traditional agriculture can create have been well proven & documented:
- A recent article on proposed NYC legislation promoting cultivation of urban farming
- A recent article on the role and impact of Urban Agriculture initiatives in Atlanta
- A recent blog post from international urban agriculture consulting firm Agritecture on the role of urban agriculture within the Smart city revolution
- A recent article published in the Washington Post highlighting a UPenn study on the mental health benefits of rehabbing vacant lots into green spaces
PG County, (Farm)land
Despite a lack of recent mainstream visibility, the presence of agricultural industry and heritage in PG County has long served as a cultural & commercial institution. Initially driven by the emergence and longstanding heyday of tobacco as the signature cash crop in the 1800s, crop selection in the county began to gradually diversify following the Civil War to reflect the array of ethnic crops and livestock that exist today.
Anchored by sound geographical infrastructure, a rich below-the-Mason-Dixon-Line ethos, and unique access to one of the nation's premier markets in Washington DC, agriculture continues to quietly thrive and remain etched in the fabric of PG County.
As of 2019, the county is home to 350+ farms – primarily situated in its more rural southern region. But over the past few years, in concert with national trends toward urbanization, healthier diets, and higher demand for fresh locally produced food, the rules of what a "farm" is and has to offer have begun to be reimagined.
The Honorable Deni L. Taveras – County Council's Green Thumb
In late 2016, following years of efforts driven by the PG County Food Equity Council, legislation went into effect which rezoned 73% of the county land for "Urban Farm" uses. Councilmember Taveras played a key role in introducing & supporting the bill (CB-025-2016), and the establishment of a $5,000 tax credit for property used for urban farming.
In late 2016, zoning & permitting obstacles encountered by Doug Adams of Mount Rainier, MD-based for-profit urban farm New Brooklyn Farms brought light to the fact that the county's economically red-hot Gateway Arts District corridor (where New Brooklyn Farms' property is located) was inadvertently omitted from the areas designated for Urban Farm uses in the CB-025-2016 bill. On recommendation from members of the PG County Urban Planning Team and the M-NCPPC, Doug reached out to CM Taveras to see if there were any potential legislative resolutions that she could help with – which she later proposed earlier this year as CR-17-2019, a minor amendment to the Gateway Arts District Development District Overlay (D-D-O) Zone Plan greenlighting Urban Farm uses and is close to final approval.
In her latest endeavor championing urban farming in the county, CM Taveras has proposed CB-14-2019 in hopes of aligning the definition of "urban farm" uses in the current zoning ordinance with that approved within the proposed new zoning laws via CB-13-2018.
With the proposed CB-14-2019 bill, CM Taveras aims to strengthen urban agriculture's reach to additional county zones and facilitate expansion of the following public benefits:
-Increased access to fresh, hyper-locally grown food
-Elimination of food insecurity & food deserts (which account for 15% of the county)
-Development of a robust, resilient & transparent local food system
-Transformation of underused spaces into beautiful, tranquil & productive green spaces
-Preservation & building of community space and engagement
-Alignment of the local economy with the larger and nationally emerging "green economy"
-Re-imagination of the use of private & public outdoor space
-A new and exciting vertical for new and existing entrepreneurs to take part in
-Building of an industry that naturally serves the environmental well-being of our current and future society
Today, New Brooklyn Farms, CM Taveras, the PG County Food Equity Council need your support of CB-14-2019 to modify & enhance legislation around urban agriculture for the betterment of our county!
On or before July 9, 2019, we ask that you
- E-sign this petition, and share with as many people as you are willing to!!!
- Submit written testimony to grow@newbrooklynfarms.com
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