Land Use Bylaw amendments: food growing, processing and distribution

Growing food

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Partners requested more opportunities to grow food for personal consumption through boulevard gardens, rooftop gardens and community gardens. Partners were concerned about the ability of The City of Calgary to monitor, maintain, and uphold cleanliness to gardens on public or vacant parcels. Partners were also concerned that additional opportunities to grow food may be too restrictive and require permits and approvals

A new use called “Urban Agriculture”: An accessory or interim commercial use of growing food outside at grade or on a rooftop of a building.

• Plants only, no animals
• Can occur in a landscaped area on a developed parcel or on a vacant parcel
• Raised beds, cold frames, hoop enclosures 1.5 metres or less in height allowed
• Ancillary buildings allowed
• “local food sales” are allowed
• Temporary outside food storage allowed
• No parking requirements

Discretionary use in:

• Multi-residential Districts
• Commercial Districts
• Industrial Districts
• Special Districts
• Centre City Districts
• East Village Districts
• Commercial Residential Districts
• Mixed-Use Districts

Exempt from a development permit when:

• No change in existing drainage patterns
• Required landscaping retained
• No local food sales
• A maximum of one ancillary building less than 10 square metres in area.

Growing food

​1, 2

Partners requested more opportunities to grow food for personal consumption through boulevard gardens, rooftop gardens and community gardens. Partners were concerned about the ability of The City of Calgary to monitor, maintain, and uphold cleanliness to gardens on public or vacant parcels. Partners were also concerned that additional opportunities to grow food may be too restrictive and require permits and approvals​.

A new definition:
“community garden” is defined as land or buildings used to grow food and ornamental plants for recreational, social, educational and community purposes, and includes sheds, compost bins and greenhouses, raised beds, and washrooms.

The purpose of defining “community garden” is to provide certainty and understanding of what they may include and to clarify that they are not a commercial activity.

Distributing food

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Partners asked for more “pop up” food distribution opportunities, more food sharing opportunities and more farmers market opportunities.

Partners were concerned about how this would be implemented.

A new definition: “local food sales” means the temporary sale of locally grown and made food that does not include permanent structures. The purpose of “local food sales” is to provide a distribution method for urban growers, who otherwise may be challenged to sell their products, and to promote the sale of affordable, local, healthy food in urban locations.

Can occur as part of Urban Agriculture when a discretionary development permit is obtained.

Allowed on City-owned land where approved by The City.

Distributing food

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Partners asked for more “pop up” food distribution opportunities, more community food sharing opportunities and more farmers market opportunities.

A new definition:
“community market” is defined as the sale of whole and locally made processed foods, as well as food for immediate consumption, as a community social activity.

Allowed in a Community Recreation Facility (aka Community Association Building)

Food Processing

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Partners support the encouragement of small scale production and sales.

Brewery, Winery and Distillery amendments propose an increased public area without the need for a development permit.