Presentation by Associate Planner Autumn Buss
Councilmembers comment
Public comment:
Joan of Cotati
jibril
Merlin Coleman of Cotati
Britta Baskerville of Cotati
DJ Ryberg of Cotati
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
Amy Lyman of Cotati
Laurie-Ann Barbour of Cotati
Reyna Yagi of Cotati
Maddy Hirshfield of Cotati
Dustin DeMatteo
Wendy Krupnick of Cotati
After a lengthy discussion, the City Council tabled the proposed urban agriculture ordinance and directed staff to hold a public workshop with the City Council to discuss options and seek to gain a consensus before updating the ordinance and returning to Planning Commission and City Council. The City Council asked staff to go beyond normal public noticing and specifically notice residents in the RR and RVL zones for the public workshop. Staff stated that it would be about 60 days to prepare and return for a public workshop.
General concepts for further development and discussion at the public workshop included:
1. Look at the potential for two categories of urban agricultural (details for discussion purposes only):
a. Limited Agriculture. Permitted by right. No mechanical equipment (other than normal residential landscape equipment), temporary farm stands (1x or 2x per week, max with defined hours allowed), a maximum size of ½-1 acre). Apply to RR, RVL zones; potentially other zones. Noise regulated per existing noise regulations. Likely no changes to existing animal/chicken limits. Accessory structures per existing code. b. Intensive Agriculture. Only RR or RVL zones. Research potential limits around maximum animals/chickens, agricultural accessory structures in other jurisdictions for discussion. This model could only be permitted through a CUP process, including any activities that exceed permissive residential agricultural activities, including limits defined in Limited Agriculture.
2. Community Gardens. Permitted by right in all zones. Need to clearly define that community gardens are not for-sale (not commercial), but personal use or exchange of products only.
Cannot exceed the limits of Limited Agricultural activities.
3. Need to ensure effective nuisance abatement process for all cases.