Watch this video produced by NBCSan Diego and Voice of San Diego! 

Just yesterday, the City of San Diego, Redevelopment Agency approved the lease for the People's Produce Project's community garden in Mt. Hope, AND they are working to remove barriers to garden development in redevelopment areas throughout the city.

Check out the article at Voice of San Diego.

Dear One in Ten Coalition Members and Supporters,

**This is an action alert!**  The One in Ten Coalition, Community Garden Permitting Committee is very close to convincing the San Diego City Council that change is needed in the permit process, but WE NEED YOU to let them know that these changes are sought by and will benefit a larger community of residents. 

Two items of significance will be discussed at City Hall this upcoming Tuesday regarding 1) approving a lease for the new People’s Produce Project garden in the Mount Hope area of SE San Diego and 2) an ordinance change to allow gardens in all redevelopment zones.  If the Council extends this consideration to allowing gardens by right on all city-owned lands or in all zones, this could lead to the win we have been working toward for nearly three years!

In preparation, we’re asking you to let your council member know that you (and/or your organization) support the council’s initiation of this code change and that you want to see it on their agenda. And, if possible, show up on Tuesday afternoon.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ENSURE THAT COUNCILMEMBERS TAKE ACTION?

1.  CALL your City Council District office to express support for community gardens, especially the proposed garden in the Mount Hope area, and urge the Council to allow community gardens by right especially in redevelopment zones.

2.  WRITE to your Councilmember and/or the Mayor.  [Find the sample letter at googledocs.]

3.  ATTEND the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) hearing at Council Chambers, City Hall, 202 C Street.  Tuesday, January 11th – 2 PM (2 hours validated parking at Horton Plaza.)

The item on the agenda is the lease for the Mount Hope Community Garden.
http://docs.sandiego.gov/redevelopmentagency_agendas/2011/dkt20110111_attachments.pdf

4.  SIGN the “Make SD Garden Friendly” petition, if you haven’t already done so.

Sincerely,

One in Ten Coalition, General Committee & Community Garden Permitting Committee
P.S.  For background information on how the garden permit strategy has been shaped so far, read the following letter, which we are sending to supporters in other organizations.  Best, ALA

Dear   ------,

In the next few months, an alliance of community groups, nonprofit organizations, and residents will present a proposal to City Council that can significantly remove current barriers to community gardens. We are asking you to support this proposal by writing a letter to your City Council Member and to Mayor Jerry Sanders[ urging them to approve changes in the City’s zoning that will allow San Diegans to create more community gardens.

Last summer, First Lady Michelle Obama visited the New Roots Community Farm in City Heights as part of her “Let’s Move" initiative encouraging active living and healthy eating. Mrs. Obama called the New Roots Community Farm a “model” for this country and the world.  Locally there has been increasing momentum from gardeners and community groups interested in developing community gardens and then, earlier this past year, the Center for Disease Control awarded San Diego County a sixteen million dollar “Communities Putting Prevention to Work” grant to develop projects and policies that encourage healthy lifestyles including farmer’s markets, community, school, and demonstration gardens.  The People’s Produce Project responded by launching the first  farmers’ market in Southeastern San Diego and by preparing to open a community garden on a vacant lot on Market Street that the Southeastern Development Corporation has agreed to lease to them for one dollar per year.  These projects will greatly improve healthy food access in a low-income neighborhood.  

But here’s the problem. Under the City’s current zoning, community gardens are prohibited in commercial and light industrial zones areas.  The vacant lot on Market Street is in a “commercial" zone and like many other ideal sites, cannot be developed as a community garden without applying for a variance from the city.  The process would incur significant additional cost and time. and in the end the variance may not be granted leaving the People’s Produce Project with nothing other than a large bill.   Even in locations that do permit community gardens, a Neighborhood Use Permit is required which includes a $5,000 deposit to begin the permitting process and entails costs that have in the past exceeded that amount.  Similarly, the 41st Street Community Garden or the “Cambodian Garden” ” closed its gates after a quarter of a century of providing healthy, local and culturally appropriate food for many Southeast Asian refugee families when land once leased by the Neighborhood House was returned to the City. The gardeners want to reestablish their garden but can’t afford the $5,000 deposit, much less the potential final cost of a permit.

In short, San Diego’s current community garden regulations present a major roadblock to the development of gardens.  We have one permitted garden in San Diego, which paid permitting costs upward of $46,000.  Eight of the 10 largest cities in the nation have thriving community garden programs.  San Diego and Phoenix are the exceptions and currently, Phoenix is working on an ordinance to foster community gardens.  New York City and Chicago boast over 600 community[ gardens,  overseen and supported by their Park and Recreation Departments.  Our Park and Recreation Department has placed a moratorium on community gardens for nearly two years while it decides on a community garden policy.  

Community gardens benefit community health, regional economic vitality and the environment, so let’s make San Diego garden-friendly! Please join us in telling our City representatives it is time to support community gardens, get rid of the regulatory roadblocks and promote this low-cost intervention to improve the health and well-being of our citizens and communities. Attached is a sample letter for you to send to the City Council and Mayor Sanders. Feel free to use, modify, or rewrite it in your own words. Please send or email a copy of your letter to [email protected] or to the People’s Produce Project, 5106 Federal Blvd, Suite 103, San Diego, Ca. 92105 by January 10, 2010. We are working hard to compile a wide cross-section of stakeholders who care about this issue and will deliver a docket of letters of support at the next City Council Meeting.  Last, please sign our Make San Diego Community Garden Friendly petition if you have not already done so.  

Thank you for taking the time to support San Diego's community gardeners.

Sincerely,

One in Ten Coalition
People’s Produce Project
San Diego Community Garden Network
International Rescue Committee

CAN WE ADD YOUR ORGANIZATION TO THIS LETTER?  (Contact us!)