POLICY PLATFORM

Open Silo’s Policy Platform is oriented toward the City of Los Angeles, where the organization is based. If you have any comments, or if you would like to develop a Policy Platform for your own city or county, contact Jes McBride at jes@opensilo.org.

COORDINATION

  • Appoint a Food Security Czar for the City of Los Angeles

    • May be housed in the Mayor’s Office, Department of Sanitation & Environment, Department of City Planning, Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, or another department.

  • Identify an Urban Agriculture & Food Security Advisory Panel, with representatives from various city departments, including the Departments of Sanitation & Environment, City Planning, Building & Safety, Aging, LA Food Policy Council, and the council offices.

    • Should convene seasonally with the ability to be contacted as needed

    • Coordination and meeting administration could be managed by a non-profit organization such, i.e. LAFPC, Open Silo, or similar.

  • Provide significant financial support to LA Community Garden Council or help support/manage a city-wide community garden system within a city department.

PATTERNED AMENITIES

  • Provide a compost hub in every public park, library, and school.

  • Require compost hubs at all large-format grocery stores.

  • Incentivize on-site composting for food establishments (i.e. restaurants, cloud kitchens, markets)

  • Allow and incentive low-cost food opportunities in public parks (i.e. food carts, food trucks, farmers markets)

  • Establish a Pantry in the Park program, partnering with non-profit organizations to provide low-cost/free food in public parks on a weekly basis

  • Establish an average one community garden per 25,000 residents

ZONING

  • Allow on-site sales of crops by permitting “Farming” as a by-right use in Commercial and Residential zones

    • Note: Currently “Farming” with on-site sales is only allowed in Manufacturing and Agriculture zones. Residential and Commercial zones allow the growing of crops but not the on-site sales of crops.

  • Allow for-profit composting activities by-right in Commercial, and Residential zones as an accessory use

    • Note: Currently enclosed composting facilities are only allowed in some Manufacturing zones, and in Agricultural zones with a Conditional Use Permit.

  • Require that 10% of all outdoor open space for multi-family apartments (LAMC 12.21 G) is available for food-growing space. The space can be private allotments for residents, public allotments for neighbors, or managed by professional gardeners for distribution on- or off-site.

    • Note: This can be part of the required 25% of landscaped area per LAMC 12.21 G.2 (a)(3)

  • Allow small-scale grocery retail on corner lots in Residential zones.

VACANT LAND

  • Institute a Vacant Parcel Fee for all vacant units and parcels in the City of Los Angeles. A portion of the revenue must go toward supporting urban agriculture coordination, food security coordination, community gardens, and urban farms that grow and distribute produce.

    • The Vacant Parcel Fee is waived if the owner hosts a Beneficial Use on-site (see below).

  • Require all publicly-owned land to host a Beneficial Uses. Beneficial Uses could include, but are not limited to, an urban farm, a community garden, a compost hub, a native species habitat, a food truck lot, an art installation, etc. If the parcel is unable to host a Beneficial Use, or the City is unwilling to manage a Beneficial Use, the City must pay a Vacant Parcel Fee.

  • Create a stream-lined process within LADWP to install water and electrical hook-ups at vacant sites.

  • Create a stream-lined process within LADBS to allow and permit shipping containers on any zone to support urban agriculture activities

  • Create a stream-lined process and incentives to promote food truck lots on vacant parcels in Commercial and Manufacturing zones, and corner lots in Residential zones