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Politics & Government

Community Gardens Clear For Now

Tampa officials want to regulate communal farming projects.

City leaders on Thursday evening delayed adding new restrictions to community gardens but made it clear they are still considering minor rules to protect nearby homeowners.

 City Council members directed staff to return on March 10 with details for a new permit process.

“This is a lot of work for people who want to garden,” said Robin Milcowitz, an organizer of Seminole Heights Community Gardens.

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The city currently doesn’t regulate community gardens, communal projects that dozens of people may tend. Proponents say they improve the appearance of empty lots, provide a sense of community for neighbors and produce cheap, natural food.

"We support the idea that food should be grown locally in order to help reduce our carbon footprint, and create a more sustainable environment," Milcowitz said. "We help teach kids the importance of fresh vegetables and fruits to avoid obesity and the diseases that are associated with it and how to grow them."

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The gardeners say some sort of administrative approval would be fine, but the city’s proposal to get a special-use permit would be burdensome.

Administrative approval would take minimal time and would cost the city about $200, said Cathy Coyle, the city’s zoning administrator.

Applying for a special use permit is a more complicated process and requires a public hearing that can involve land surveys or aerial photographs — costs borne by the applicant. The city also charges $2,015 to process the application, with no guarantee of approval.

Susan Long, a community gardner and a candidate for the council's District 2 seat, said public scrutiny isn’t the gardening group's concern. “They’re opposed to the cost,” she said.

While no homeowners association outright opposes the gardens, many do want some notification of new ventures, if not regulation, said Margaret Rizzi, head of the Tampa Homeowners, an Association of Neighborhoods.

“The neighbors want to know before a garden shows up next to them,” she said. “If they want to reduce the fee, that’s fine.”

Council members tended to agree.

“This is nothing new. Tampa has had gardens for a hundred years,” said District 6 Councilman Charlie Miranda.

But times change, he said, and recent garden proposals have included selling alcohol and installing a portable toilet.

District 2 Councilwoman Mary Mulhern, who has championed the gardens, said she was frustrated that the discussion has gone on for three years with no consensus emerging.

And, she asked, who opposes gardening?

The six council members who were present voted unanimously to bring the issue back next month. Councilwoman Yvonne Yolie Capin was absent.

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