Policy Options in Support of Community Gardens for Burien

1. Policy Options in Support of Community Gardens for Burien How can Burien enable private community garden development?

2. Who we are • CEP • Interdisciplinary Major • CEP 460 – Planning in Context • Jill Sterrett • Marty Curry Members • MaddieBeeders • Garrett Gerlach • Devin Myers • Brandon Pietenpol • Molly Thornton

3. C.E.P. & Burien • HEAL Grant/ CPPW • Healthy Eating, Active Living • Communities Putting Prevention to Work • Food Access • Community Gardens • Working with the City of Burien • Scott Greenberg • Community Development Director • Stephanie Jewett • City Planner

4. Report Proposal • Objectives • Define a “community garden” • Explain relevant functionality • Outline social and physical relations • Appropriate implementation of policy to minimize obstacles for private landowners • Methods • Examination of case studies • Compiling a list of recommendations • Example Garden Lease and policy guidelines

5. Defining a community garden • Open Space for community gathering • Size ranges based on available space • Ownership/Maintenance • Organization

6. Benefits of a Community Garden • Municipal costs • Less expensive than park land maintenance • Less appropriation of land & labor • Increases property value • Beautification • Food production • Exercise/Improved diet • Horticultural Therapy & Education • Urban Ecosystem • Community Building

7. Sustainable Burien • Have experience in launching the first community garden on publicly-owned land in Burien • Largely in conjunction with the Burien Parks & Recreation Department • Implementation of the PROS Master Plan • City offers matching neighborhood grant • Have installed four community gardens at the Interim Art Space • Guiding force for future community gardens

8. Alley-cat Acres • Seattle-based urban farm collectives • Goal is to connect the community with food, foster strong community, address food insecurity, offer healthy choices • Dedicated individuals & volunteers • Support from private entities • Critical obstacle from this case study • Selling produce on residential properties

9. Example Garden Lease and policy guidelines • Garden toolkit • Community Garden lease • Model garden rules • Land use policy

10. Garden Toolkit • Created as part of NPLAN • National Policy & Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity • Provides a model lease & model garden rules • Relevance • Burien can use to manipulate specifically with Burien legislature

11. Garden Lease • An agreement between landowner & gardening group • Establishes legal responsibility • Including insurance coverage • Addresses potential conflicts • Benefit minimizes risk

12. Model Garden Rules • Standard tool governing the structure of community garden operation • Ensure safety for participants • Limits disputes • Prevents disturbances through mediation • Toolkit provides a starting framework for a garden rulebook

13. Land Use Policy • NPLAN’s model creates a separate subcategory for community gardens • Requires specific zoning for gardens • Another option is to permit community gardens as acceptable usage of land in multiple contexts • Does not require a permit or prior approval

14. Recommendations • Burien-specific community garden definition • Creation of a model lease via the Garden toolkit • Implementation of supportive policy for community gardens • Permitting the sale of produce either on- or off-site • Allowance of livestock on-site

15. Thank you!

16. Questions?