Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable connecting our community to the work of building a healthy food system

Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable 2005 – Healthy Community Food System Plan 2007 – Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable was formed 2009 – Region of Waterloo Official Plan (ROP) 2011/2012 – Municipal Official Plans 2013 – Food charter

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities..

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities What are food-friendly municipalities? Why should municipalities plan for vibrant food- friendly spaces in our communities? How can municipalities support the creation of vibrant food-friendly spaces in our communities? What are the supportive policies in Waterloo Region Recommendations

What are Food-Friendly Municipalities

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Healthy VisibleAccessible

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Why Plan for Food? Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment Policy Influences Municipal Land Use Policies Policy Influences Licensing Regulations Policy Influences Community Garden Policies, Local Food Strategies Policy Influences Zoning By-laws and regulations

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities: Temporary Farmers’ Markets  Reduce “food swamps”  Increase walkable and transit-friendly access to healthy, local foods  Create socially vibrant and inclusive spaces  Build food skills Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Healthy People Reduce impact of “food swamps” (too much junk food) Increase walkable and transit-friendly access to healthy local foods Create socially vibrant and inclusive spaces Build food skills (seasonal availability)

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities: Temporary Farmers’ Markers Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment  Strengthen the local food system  Provide direct income for farmers  Help start new food businesses  Revitalize local retail areas  Keep money in local economy

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Healthy Local Economy Strengthen local food systems Provide direct income for local farmers Help start new food businesses Revitalize local retail areas Keep money in our local economy

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment Policy Influences Land Use Policies

Current Policies Temporary Farmers Markets Land Use Policies (ROP) The region directs area municipalities to ensure development facilitates residents’ access to locally grown and other healthy foods in neighbourhoods. [2.D.1 (g)] The region directs area municipalities to permit temporary farmers’ markets, in existing and newly planned neighbourhoods [3.F.2]

Municipal Land Use Policies Temporary Farmers Markets City of Waterloo OPCity of Kitchener OPCity of Cambridge OP – 10.4 …may be zoned to permit the following complementary uses - Community uses (includes temporary farmers markets in definition) The City will support the integration of non- residential land uses….at appropriate locations in the residential land use designations* …Such uses may include: n) temporary farmer’s markets Certain land uses are permitted within all land use designations in the city, … The uses generally permitted in all land use designations are: f) temporary farmers’ markets

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment Policy Influences Zoning By-laws and Regulations

Zoning By-laws Temporary Farmers’ Markets Currently permitted in commercial zones that permit ‘retail uses’ Challenges – Zoning By-laws have not been updated yet to reflect the revised Official Plan policies – Community centres may not zoned for retail use – Retail use in an enclosed space

Zoning By-laws Temporary Farmers’ Markets Opportunities Include as a ‘special use’ permitted in all zones (e.g. Wellesley Township) Include as an approved retail use in all zones (e.g. Vancouver) Include as a use permitted in all zones (e.g. Cambridge)

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment Policy Influences Licensing Regulations

Municipal Licensing MunicipalityLicenceFee KitchenerFarm Vendor License Temporary Retail Market License $148 $496 (3 days) WaterlooOutdoor Vending License$250 + business license ($300) CambridgeOutdoor Vendor Permit$60 + business license ($60) WoolwichBusiness Licensing By-law Outdoor food vendors $265 WellesleyNo license required WilmotRefreshment vehicle / cart Site specific daily use North DumfriesVendor By-lawNo fee

Current Policies Temporary Farmers Markets Challenges Kitchener – farmer, market gardener or other person selling local, in-season produce of his/her own farm or garden at his/her own property Waterloo and Cambridge – cannot operate within 100m of a school North Dumfries – no outdoor vendors Fees can be restrictive

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Recommendations for Temporary Markets 1.Include temporary farmers’ markets in all land use zones in updated Zoning By-laws 2.Include temporary markets in the definition of retail uses, or a separate definition for temporary farmers’ markets 3.Include exemption in licensing fees for neighbourhood markets/good food markets 4.Support temporary farmers’ markets by creating a toolkit for local groups

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities: Community Gardens  Build community and improve social inclusion  Increase food skills  Support food sovereignty  Increase access to healthy foods  Provide opportunities for physical activity Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Healthy People Build community and improve social inclusion Increase food skills Support food sovereignty Increase access to healthy food Provide opportunities for physical activity

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment  Support biodiversity  Support green infrastructure  Recycle organic wastes  Reduce carbon footprint

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Healthy Environment Support and increase biodiversity Support green infrastructure Recycle organic wastes back into soil Reduce carbon footprint

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment Policy Influences Municipal Land Use Policies Policy Influences Community Garden Policies, Local Food Strategies Policy Influences Zoning By-laws and regulations

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment Policy Influences Municipal Land Use Policies

Current Policies Community Gardens Regional Official Plan (ROP) The region directs area municipalities to establish policies in their official plans that encourage community gardens and rooftop gardens. [3.F.3] The Region will support community gardens, by granting access to Regional lands, and by providing rain barrels, composting bins, compost, wood mulch, in kind supports [3.F.4]

Municipal Land Use Policies Community Gardens City of WaterlooCity of KitchenerCity of Cambridge (2) (f) The City will plan for neighbourhoods that ….promote healthy lifestyles by….planning for community gardens, where appropriate (3) The City will support community gardens through a) promoting the awareness of community gardening; b) offering City-owned lands as new community garden sites 10.1 – 10.4 May be zoned to permit the following uses…Community gardens The City will support the creation of community gardens and other compatible forms of urban agriculture, where appropriate, and in accordance with the other policies in this Plan. (pg 38) Community gardens and other compatible forms of urban agriculture may be permitted in all residential areas (3.1.3) Certain land uses are permitted within all land use designations in the city… The uses generally permitted in all land use designations are: e) agricultural uses including community gardens but excluding livestock operations;

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment Policy Influences Zoning By-laws and Regulations

Opportunities Green Zones that support horticultural uses (e.g. Waterloo) ‘Landscaped open space’ requirements – Include ‘cultivated gardens’ in definition of landscaped open space (e.g. Edmonton) Current Zoning By-laws and Regulations

Opportunities Included in new developments – amend the Development Code to require space for on-site community gardens in new residential developments of 10 units or greater (e.g. Marin County) Provide density bonusing – Amend bylaws to allow density bonusing for inclusion of community gardens in new residential developments (e.g Langford, BC)

Current Zoning By-laws and Regulations Opportunities Permitted use in all land use zones – Cambridge – Section ‘uses permitted in all land use zones’ – Ottawa - includes community gardens as a permitted use in all land use zones – Owen Sound - zoning shall not limit the placement of a community garden – Mississauga - Uses Permitted in More than One Zone. – Winnipeg - park related use permitted in all agricultural and residential zones; most commercial, industrial, employment zones – Langford - a permitted use in all commercial and residential zones and in public places

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Vibrant Food Spaces Healthy People Healthy Economy Healthy Environment Policy Influences Community Garden Policy

Community Garden Policies City of Kitchener (2009)City of Cambridge (2011) …Will facilitate and support community gardens in the following ways: -Assist community groups in finding suitable sites ( under- utilized public and private lands, parklands, community centres, schoolyards, boulevards, and cul-de- sac bulbs) -Encourage developers to make available suitable land for community gardens -Set up a land trust -Establish a small fund …Will encourage and support the development of community gardens -City-owned and designated as open space -accessible to pedestrians and persons requiring the use of mobility devices -no conflict of uses -in a location that is visible for surveillance purposes. -suitable parking -suitable soil conditions -a minimum of 100m from the nearest residential building

Community Garden Policies Waterloo – Partners in Parks “Planting and maintaining a community vegetable garden on passive parkland within your neighbourhood in Waterloo is one option through the Partners in Parks Program. Two Community Garden Representatives with City Staff assistance, may plan, install and maintain a community vegetable garden within their neighbourhood park for a five-year renewable term, as agreed upon by the City of Waterloo. A minimum of five to ten gardeners must be committed to participate and make the garden a success.”

Challenges and Opportunities setting targets for increasing garden sites or creating a garden in every neighbourhood a garden in every ward (Toronto) identify suitable locations for community gardens (e.g. one per neighbourhood) especially in higher density neighbourhoods (Langford, BC) support the establishment of one community garden for each neighbourhood (Saanich, BC) create one community garden site for every 2,000 households (Madison, WI) Community Garden Policies

Challenges and Opportunities creating an inventory or system of identifying city-owned lands available for garden sites Priority use of surplus land (Ottawa) Inventory of municipal, other government lands (Langford, BC) providing for allotment gardens as part of the strategy

Community Garden Policies Challenges and Opportunities identifying the city’s role in encouraging private businesses and landowners to provide space for community gardens Economic incentives School Boards Partnerships and lease agreements

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Further community garden supports: providing an official endorsement of community gardens creating a community garden action plan creating a community garden or urban agriculture strategy providing community garden support staff

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities Recommendations for Community Gardens 1.Official endorsement of community gardens 2.Raise profile of community gardens on websites 3.Ensure community gardens are included in all land use zones 4.Expand community garden policies and supports – include targets for increasing gardens – identify lands for garden sites – create allotment gardens 5.Create a community garden strategy

Planning Food-Friendly Municipalities

Questions Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable