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CityofBattleCreek

Chapter1287UrbanAgricultureDraft

December15,2016

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1287.01Purpose
Thepurposeofthischapteristosupporttheproductionandsaleoflocallygrownfoods;build
community; improve public health and wellbeing; and provide economic opportunity,
particularlyinareasthathavevacantorunderutilizedland,byaffirmingthatgardeningfor
personaluseisapermitteduseoflandandadditionallyallowforcommunitygardensand
commercialurbanfarmswithperformancestandards.

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1287.02Definitions.Asusedinthischapter,thefollowingwordsandphraseshavethefollowing
meanings:
A. CommunityGardenAvacantparceloflandorvacantportionofaparceloflandthatis
divided into plots for cultivation of crops including fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers
and/orherbsbymorethanoneindividualand/orgroup.Thelandmaybedividedinto
separateplotsforcultivationbyoneormoreindividualsormaybemanagedcollectively
bymembersofagroup.Thelandmayormaynotbeownedbyaparticipatingmemberof
thecommunitygardengroup.
B. CompostRelativelystabledecomposedorganicmatterforuseinagricultureandother
growingpracticesusuallyconsistingofmaterialssuchasgrass,leaves,yardwaste,works,
andalsoincludingrawanduncookedfoodwastes.
C. CropsCommoditiesproducedfromtheearthwhichareplanted,raised,andgathered
withinthecourseofasingleseasonand/orovermultipleseasons.Cropsincludethose
plants or trees that are intentionally planted and require human intervention and
cultivation,includingflowers,berries,fruit,vegetables,herbs,spices,beansandlegumes,
grains,andnuts.Forthepurposesofthisordinance,marihuanaisnotconsideredacrop.
D. FarmEquipmentandToolsThosepiecesofmachineryandtoolsusedtopreparethe
soil, cultivate produce, fertilize, harvest, etc. including but not limited to tractors,
rototillers,rakes,shovels,hoes,fertilizer,pesticideandherbicidespreaders,etc.
E. FarmersMarketAplacewherevendorsandindividualscansellproductsfromtheir
crops.
F. FarmStandAtemporarystructure,accessorytoaprivategarden,communitygarden,
orurbancommercialfarm,forthedisplayandsaleofproduceandcropsgrownonthe
site.
G. GreenhouseAnaccessorybuildingorstructurewhoseroofandsidesaremadelargely
ofglassorothertransparentortranslucentmaterialandinwhichthetemperatureand
humiditycanberegulatedforthecultivationofplants.
H. HoopHouseAnunheatedaccessorystructurewhoseroofandsidesaremadelargelyof
transparentortranslucentmaterialforthepurposeofthecultivationofplantsinside.

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I. OrchardTheestablishment,care,andharvestingofagroupofmorethanten(10)fruit
ornutbearingtrees.Anorchardasaprincipaluseisconsideredanurbancommercial
farm.
J. Private Garden An accessory use where the owner or tenant cultivates food crops
and/or nonfood crops primarily for personal use on the property they reside, or on
vacantlandnotexceedingone(1)acreofland.
K. RainwaterCatchmentSystemAmethodofcatchingrainwaterrunoff,includingfromthe
roofofastructureintorainguttersthatchannelintoarainbarrel,drum,orcistern.
L. TreeFarmAnyparceloflandusedtoraiseorharvestmorethanten(10)treesforwood
products,ChristmasTrees,transplanting,and/orwhereforestproductsaresoldonsite
or transported to market. A tree farm as a principal use is considered an urban
commercialfarm.
M. UrbanCommercialFarmLandusedforthecultivationoffoodcropsand/ornonfood
cropsprimarilyforsaleorprofitbytheowner,tenant,and/oremployeesoftheowner.

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1287.03UseandPerformanceRegulations
A. PrivateGardens
1. Private gardens are allowed on any property when accessory to a permitted
principal use and subject to restrictions for accessory buildings, fencing, and
nuisance provisions of the Battle Creek Codified Ordinances for the property on
whichtheprivategardenislocated.
2. Privategardensarepermittedonanyvacantpropertylessthanone(1)acreinsize
withthefollowinglimitations:
a. Plantbedsshallbesetbackthree(3)feetfrompropertylinesandthepublic
rightofway.
b. Accessorybuildingsnottoexceed200s.f.arepermittedinthesideandrear
yardofthelotnocloserthanthree(3)feetfromthesideandrearproperty
lines,includingtheroofoverhang,andnocloserthantenfeettoaprincipal
structurelocatedonoradjacenttotheproperty.
c. Compostpilesmustbelocatedatleastfivefeetfromalladjoiningproperty
lines and a minimum of twenty feet from the nearest residential structure.
Eachcompostbin/areashallbelessthansixteen(16)squarefeetinsize.
d. Raincatchmentsystemsmustbelocatedatleastfivefeetfromalladjoining
propertylines.
e. Farmstandssellingplantsgrownatthepropertyarepermittedbetween8am
and8pmandshallbesetbackthreefeetfromthepropertylineandthepublic
rightofway.Exceptforsalesofplantsproducedwithintheprivategarden,
thereshallbenoretailsalesonthesite.
f. Useofmotorizedequipment,byuseofgasorelectricity,withinaresidential
zoningdistrictshallberestrictedtothehoursbetween7amand8pm.
g. Decorativelandscapelightingispermitted.
h. FencingshallcomplywithCh.1298.
B. CommunityGardens

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1. Community gardens are allowed on any property when accessory to a permitted

principaluseandsubjecttorestrictionsforaccessorybuildings,fencing,andnuisance
provisions of the Battle Creek Codified Ordinances for the property on which the
communitygardenislocated.
2. Communitygardensareapermitteduseofvacantpropertythatcontainsaminimum
of7,500s.f.andminimumwidthof66.
3. Thefollowingprovisionsapplytocommunitygardens:
a. Plantbedsshallbesetbackthree(3)feetfromthepropertylinesandthepublic
rightofway.
b. Accessorybuildingsincludinggreenhouses,storagesheds,andshadepavilions
shallbepermittedinthesideorrearyard,subjecttoCh.1286,butshallnot
exceed10%ofthetotallotarea.
c. Hoop houses are permitted as an accessory building but are not counted
towardtheallowableaccessorybuildingsizelimitation.Thecoveringsmustbe
maintainedandremainintact,andremovedwhennolongerinuseforaperiod
ofsixmonthsorlonger.
d. Compostpilesmustbelocatedatleastfive(5)feetfromalladjoiningproperty
linesandaminimumoftwenty(20)feetfromthenearestresidentialstructure.
Eachcompostbin/areashallbelessthansixteen(16)squarefeetinsize.
e. Raincatchmentsystemsmustbelocatedatleastfive(5)feetfromalladjoining
propertylines.
f. Farmstandssellingplantsgrownatthepropertyarepermittedbetween8am
and8pm.Exceptforsalesofplantsproducedwithinthecommunitygarden
andsoldatthefarmstand,thereshallbenoretailsalesonthesite.
g. The use of motorized equipment, by use of gas or electricity, within a
residentialzoningdistrictshallberestrictedtothehoursbetween7amand8
pm.
h. Lighting,ifprovided,shallbeaminimalamountandshieldedsothatalldirectly
emittedlightfallswithintheproperty.
i. FencingshallcomplywithCh.1298.
j. Vehicleaccesstothesiteshallonlybebywayofadrivewayconstructedtocity
standardstoavoidvehicledamagetothecurb,sidewalkandanylawnareain
therightofway.
k. There are no minimum parking requirements, however any parking lot
proposed and designed for four or more vehicles must be constructed in
accordance with Ch. 1284 only after a site plan has been reviewed and
approvedinaccordancewithCh.1294.
l. Onefreestandingsignconsistingofnomorethantwelve(12)squarefeetshall
beallowed.Suchsignshallotherwisecomplywiththeapplicableregulations
ofthezoningdistrictinwhichitislocated.
m. Trashcontainersmaybeprovidedonsite.
n. Gardeningactivitiesshallbeconductedinamannerwhichisconsistentwith
theactivitiesandnoiselevelsoftheneighborhoodinwhichtheyarelocated.

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C. UrbanCommercialFarms
1. ExceptforasotherwiseallowedbytheZoningOrdinance,UrbanCommercialFarms
areapermitteduseoflandwherecontiguouspropertiesaretwo(2)acresinsizeor
greater.
2. UrbanCommercialFarmsarepermittedasaspecialuseoflandpursuanttoChapter
1290wherecontiguouspropertiesarelessthantwo(2)acresinsize.
3. Thefollowingprovisionsapplytourbancommercialfarms:
a. Thedevelopmentofanybuildings,farmersmarket,accessorystructures,and
parkingmustcomplywiththesetback,height,andsizerequirementsofthe
zoningdistrictinwhichthefarmislocatedandconstructedonlyafterapproval
ofasiteplanpursuanttoCh.1294.
b. Plantbedsshallbesetbackthree(3)feetfromthepropertylinesandthepublic
rightofway,unlesstheadjacentpropertyisresidentialinuse,andinthatcase
thebedsshallbesetbackfifteen(15)fromthatpropertyline.
c. Orchards, tree farms, and any crop that reaches a height of five (5) feet at
maturityshallbesetbackatleastfifteen15frompropertylinesandthepublic
rightofway.
d. Hoop houses are permitted as an accessory building but are not counted
towardtheallowableaccessorybuildingsizelimitation.Thecoveringsmustbe
maintainedandremainintact,andremovedwhennolongerinuseforaperiod
ofsixmonthsorlonger.
e. Compostareasshallbelocatedatleastfive(5)feetfromalladjoiningproperty
linesandaminimumoftwenty(20)feetfromthenearestresidentialstructure.
Eachcompostbin/areashallbelessthansixteen(16)squarefeetinsize.
f. Raincatchmentsystemsmustbelocatedatleastfive(5)feetfromalladjoining
propertylines.
g. Afarmersmarketorfarmstandispermittedbetween8amand8pm.Inthe
instanceofafarmstand,exceptforsalesofplantsproducedwithintheurban
commercialgarden,thereshallbenoretailsalesonthesite.
h. Useofmotorizedequipment,byuseofgasorelectricity,withinaresidential
zoningdistrictshallberestrictedtothehoursbetween7amand8pm.
i. Lighting,ifprovided,shallbeaminimalamount,andshallbeshieldedsothat
alldirectlyemittedlightfallswithintheproperty.
j. FencingshallcomplywithCh.1298.
k. Vehicleaccesstothesiteshallonlybebywayofadrivewayconstructedtocity
standardstoavoidvehicledamagetothecurb,sidewalkandanylawnareain
therightofway.
l. There are no minimum parking requirements, however any parking lot
proposed and designed for four or more vehicles must be constructed in
accordance with Ch. 1284 only after a site plan has been reviewed and
approvedinaccordancewithCh.1294.

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m. Onefreestandingsignconsistingofnomorethantwentyfour(24)squarefeet
shall be allowed. Such sign shall otherwise comply with the applicable
regulationsofthezoningdistrictinwhichitislocated.
n. Trashcontainersmaybeprovidedonsite.
o. Temporaryrestroomfacilitiesarepermittedonlyduringthegrowingseason
fromApril1stthroughOctober31st.Thefacilitiesshallbescreenedonatleast
three(3)sidesfrompublicviewbyfencing,structures,orplantingsofsufficient
height.

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1287.04PropertyMaintenance
A. Propertyusedforprivategardens,communitygardens,andurbancommercialfarmsshall
bemaintainedinanorderlyandneatcondition,freeofnoxiousweedsordebris.Dead
gardenplantsshallberemovedregularlyandinanyinstance,nolaterthanNovember
30thofeachcalendaryear.
B. Plants or ground cover other than grass shall be prevented from encroaching onto
adjacentpropertiesorontothepublicrightofway.
C. Noplantsexceptgrassmaybegrowninthepublicrightofwayorwithinonefootofthe
publicsidewalk.Grassmustbemaintainedaheightthatdoesnotexceednine(9)inches
inheight.
D. Noplantmaterialmaygrowtoaheightthatinterfereswithaclearvisionlineofsightat
streetintersectionsorwhenenteringorexitingdriveways.
E. Oats,wheat,andryemaybeusedasawintercovercrop,butnotgrowntofullmaturity
inanyseason.
F. Trashreceptaclesshallbelocatedtotherearoftheproperty.
G. Walkwaysshallbeunpavedandcoveredwithmulch,gravelorotheraggregatethatis
treatedtocontroldust.
H. Gardenwasteorotherrefusethatisnotallowedascompostmaynotbestoredorallowed
toaccumulateonthesite.
I. Compostpilesareonlyforwastecreatedonthepropertyandtheymustbemaintained,
Compostshallnotincludemeat,grease,fat,oil,bones,manure,ormilkproducts.
J. Theseusesshallnotbedetrimentaltothephysicalenvironmentortothepublichealth
andgeneralwelfarebyreasonofexcessiveproductionofnoise,smoke,fumes,vibrations,
odors,chemical,orbiologicalpollutants.Nothingassociatedwithacommunitygardenor
commercial urban farm, including allowable fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides,
herbicides,compostmaterials,andwatercollectionreceptaclesshallemitodorsthatcan
be detected beyond the confines of the property containing the garden or be an
inordinateattractionformice,ratsorotherrodents.
K. Tools,supplies,andmachineryshallbestoredinanenclosedstructureorremovedfrom
thepropertydaily.Allchemicalsandfuelsshallbestoredoffthegroundinanenclosed,
lockedstructurewhenthesiteisunattended.
L. The property shall be maintained so as to prevent the flow of stormwater, irrigation
water,chemicals,dirt,ormudacrossorontoadjacentlots,properties,publicstreets,or
alleys.

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M. Atsuchtimegardenactivityceasescompletelyandthesitewillnolongerbeusedfora
garden,anyraisedplantingbeds,accessorybuildings,andotherabovegroundremains
ofthegardenshallbepromptlyremovedandthegroundleveledandrestoredsoitcan
beutilizedforusespermittedinthatzoningdistrict.
1287.05CompliancewithotherRegulations
A. WheretheprovisionsofthisOrdinanceareinconsistentwiththoseofthestateor
federalgovernment,themorerestrictiveprovisionsgovern,totheextentpermitted
bylaw.Themorerestrictiveprovisionistheonethatimposesgreaterrestrictionsor
morestringentcontrols.
B. WheretheprovisionsofthisOrdinanceareinconsistentwithoneanother,orarein
conflictwithprovisionsfoundinotheradoptedOrdinancesorregulationsadoptedby
the City of Battle Creek, the more restrictive provisions shall govern. The more
restrictive provision is the one that imposes greater restrictions or more stringent
controls.
C. This Ordinance is not intended to provide permissions between private parties
regardinguseofland,orinterferewith,abrogate,orannulanydeedrestrictionor
otheragreementbetweenprivateparties.TheCityofBattleCreekshallnotenforce
anysuchprivateagreements.

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