Updates to KCMO urban agriculture codes passed

Contact:
Karen Siebert

KANSAS CITY, MO - Members of the City Council of Kansas City this afternoon approved an ordinance updating the city's zoning and development codes to reflect the changing needs of our community. The codes enable urban agriculture and the burgeoning local food movement to function more effectively in Kansas City.

"This has been a long process, but we feel like the compromise that has been developed is an important first step toward increasing access to fresh, healthy food and improving the economic vitality of our community," said Katherine Kelly, director of the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture. "This ordinance will help Kansas City become a greener and healthier community, which is something that I think everyone can agree is a positive move forward."

According to Kelly, the updated codes include several key provisions that will allow for the continued development of urban agriculture in Kansas City.

"We are very pleased that the codes allow for on-site sales, enable local food growers to have apprentices and interns, and allow gardening as a principal or accessory usage of a property so that farmers can live where they farm," Kelly said.

Also among the key provisions is language securing the current right of homeowners to grow produce in their front yard for their own consumption or sale off-site. "All of these provisions can help lead to more food production right here in the city, improving citizens' food security, health and economic opportunities," Kelly said.

KCCUA plans to work with local farmers and growers to ensure that the new codes are understood by area producers. In addition, the stakeholders involved in the codes revision effort, including the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition, community members and city development and codes personnel, will continue to work with the City Council during the 18-month codes review period approved by the Council.

"We fully support the City Council's commitment to review the codes in 6 months and again in 18 months to allow for improvements and clarifications," said Beth Low, director of the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition. "We will be monitoring the implementation of the new codes and how they affect local growers and community members when put into practice. We plan to provide the City Council with the on-the-ground feedback that is so important in the codes development process."

To learn more about the changes to the city zoning ordinances, citizens are encouraged to visit the City of Kansas City web site.

About the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition
The Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition is a group of individuals, organizations, businesses and government representatives committed to ensuring that there is a healthy, sustainable, accessible and affordable food system for Greater Kansas City. The coalition promotes food policies that positively impact the nutritional, economic, social and environmental health of Greater Kansas City. More information is available at www.kcfoodpolicy.org.

About the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture
The Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture is a non-profit organization that promotes the growing of food in the neighborhoods where people live, work, shop and play, with the goal of improving individual and community health, quality of life and economic opportunity in the KC metro area. Visit www.kccua.org for more information.