The Michigan State University College of Law Urban Food, Farm & Agriculture Law Practicum Kathryn Hynan

Zoning & Land Use  Zoning – written regulations and laws that define how property in specific geographic zones can be used; to partition by ordinance into sections reserved for different purposes 1. Residential Districts 2. Business Districts 3. Industrial Districts 4. Special Districts & Overlay Areas  Land use – the human use of land, which involves the management and/or modification of the natural environment or wilderness into built environments (i.e. settlements)

Examples of Land Use in Detroit Proposed by the Detroit Works Project on Land Use: Residential Use: Green Residential Low-Density Medium Density Green Mixed Rise Mixed Use: Neighborhood Center District Center Live + Make City Center Industrial Use: Light Industrial General Industrial Heavy Industrial Landscape Use: Large Park Innovation Productive Innovation Ecological

Reading City Ordinances Detroit City Code - Chapter 61: Zoning Article VII: Residential Zoning Districts Division 4. R3 Low Density Residential District DIVISION 4. R3 LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT [...] Sec Conditional other uses. [...] (2) Greenhouse as provided for in ARTICLE XII.DIVISION 3.Subdivision H of this Chapter (3) Hoophouse as provided for in ARTICLE XII.DIVISION 3.Subdivision H of this Chapter (4) Signs as provided for in ARTICLE VI of this Chapter. (5) Urban farm as provided for in ARTICLE XII.DIVISION 3.Subdivision H of this Chapter Detroit permits agricultural uses by zoning districts in its Zoning Ordinance. However, Detroit permits specific uses in sub-districts, like a “Low Density Residential District.” Detroit also separately permits narrow uses like “greenhouse” and “urban farm.” These uses can differ with each type of zoning district.

2 Ways to Gain Access to Land in Detroit Ownership 2. Leasing

Land Ownership Advantages Investment returns Collateral Permanence Disadvantages Property tax Maintenance 1.Accessibility 2.Zoning 3.Adequate spacing

Options  1. Land Bank: “a bank whose main function is to provide loans for land purchase, especially to farmers.”  2. White Picket Fence Program : “allows property owners to buy vacant city-owned lots next to their property for $200.”

Leasing Land  Advantages  Initial cost is cheaper  No long term commitment/investment  No responsibility for taxes  Disadvantages  No guaranteed renewal of property  Zoning  Funding

Options 1. Gardens for Growth Program: Gardeners can lease plots of land for 1 year ($25) or 3 years ($75) 2. Adopt-A-Lot Program: free program ran by the City of Detroit; lease ends on December 31 st each year