Atlanta Progressive News

(APN) ATLANTA — With this month’s passage of ordinance 14-O-1092, Atlanta’s going to start looking a whole lot greener: the new urban agriculture ruling amends current zoning codes, allowing for the growth of market and urban gardens in the city.

 

The ordinance passed in a unanimous vote by the Atlanta City Council on June 02, in a vote of thirteen to zero, with Mary Norwood (Post 2 at large) absent, and Carla Smith (District 1) not voting.  

 

 

Atlanta citizens will now be able to grow private and commercial gardens in vacant lots.  Instead of being limited to storefront locations, producers will be able to sell their locally grown food at open markets.

 

 

The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability sees this as a long-term investment in empowering Atlanta citizens with the opportunities of growing, developing, and consuming their own food. They hope to do so “with the least possible impact on nature,” the legislation says.  

 

 

Atlanta City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell stated in his June 03, 2014 press release that he hopes the ordinance will stimulate the city’s economy.

 

 

“The passage of this urban agriculture ordinance is a great step forward for the City of Atlanta. Urban agriculture increases food safety, fosters educational opportunities, creates jobs, and expands local economic development.  This is a win for the citizens of Atlanta,” Mitchell said.

 

 

“Urban agriculture is the future and could very well be Atlanta’s savior,” Rashid Nuri from Truly Living Well told Atlanta Progressive News.  “Atlanta is already one of the greenest cities in the country in terms of its tree population, and I’m looking forward to expanding that base.  This will allow us to not only grow food, but educate people around food creation and ecology.”

 

 

 

Mayor Kasim Reed officially signed the ordinance into law on June 10.

(END/2014)