Last week, San Francisco's supervisors approved new legislation intended to jump-start urban farming throughout the city, reports John Upton.
The nonprofit San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association (SPUR) was instrumental in pushing for the legislation [PDF], which Upton notes, "follows zoning changes last year that made it easier to operate small farms and legal to sell food
grown in San Francisco. This new set of laws will take it further by
removing additional bureaucratic barriers for hopeful gardeners and
actively searching for land they can use while providing them with
seeds, tools, and advice."
The legislation establishes an Urban Agriculture Program for the city and county of San Francisco, that, "will audit city-owned land and rooftops in a quest to dig up
potential new public gardening sites. It will also develop incentives
for owners of vacant lots to allow their land to be used for community
farming."
"San Francisco's adoption of the new urban farming programs follows a
trend that has seen Detroit, Portland, Baltimore, New York, Seattle,
Oakland, and other major cities craft programs and laws in recent years
to encourage agriculture and gardening within city limits," notes Upton.
FULL STORY: New San Francisco legislation will jump-start urban farming
11,000 Housing Units Possible with S.F. Office Conversions, Study Says
A new study by SPUR and the Urban Land Institute’s San Francisco chapter estimates a specific number of apartment units that could be built from vacant office units in the city.
How to Treat Housing as a Human Right
SPUR's housing report, "What Will it Really Take to Create an Affordable Bay Area," found that it will take 2.2 million units in the next 50 years to avoid worsening housing inequality.
A New Plan for Sea Level Rise in the San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay has 400 miles of shoreline, and a dire need for a new approach to dealing with the effects of rising water levels. An estimated $100 billion in potential property damage is at risk.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
How Freeway Projects Impact Climate Resilience
In addition to displacement and public health impacts, highway expansions can also make communities less resilient to flooding and other climate-related disasters.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
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