TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft an ordinance amending Title 8 of the Long Beach Municipal Code to establish the Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone (UAIZ) Program and Title 21 to define land use zones eligible to participate in the UAIZ Program. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In 2014, the State of California implemented Assembly Bill 551 (AB 551), the Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Act, which authorizes cities and counties to provide tax incentives to landowners who allow their vacant properties to be used for small-scale agricultural purposes. AB 551 authorizes landowners to enter into an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone (UAIZ) Program agreement for a minimum period of five years.
On April 5, 2016, the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors adopted a UAIZ Ordinance that establishes a UAIZ Program for the unincorporated territory of Los Angeles County and enables incorporated cities to establish their own UAIZ programs. Therefore, the City of Long Beach has the ability to adopt an Ordinance to establish its own UAIZ Program.
On May 10, 2016, the City Council requested that staff explore the feasibility of implementing the UAIZ Program in Long Beach. On February 7, 2017, the City Manager’s Office provided a feasibility report about the UAIZ Program and the process of implementing the program within Long Beach (Exhibit A - UAIZ Memo). The report determined that for an UAIZ Program to be established, it is recommended the City prepare an Ordinance that addresses the following:
· Designates the boundary of the UAIZ within the City and clarifies zoning where food growing operations are allowed.
· Eligible vacant lots must be between 4,356 and 130,680 square feet in area.
· Designates the Department of Development Services as the lead agency and establishes a process by which the City can determine property owners’ eligibility and by which property owners can apply for the incentive.
· Develops an enforcement mechanism to ensure property owner...
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