EDMONTON – It’s been over a year in the works, but on Monday the city unveiled a draft of their food and urban agriculture strategy.
The document outlines nine directions and recommendations to help make sure that food and urban agriculture is included in current and future city planning.
Included is the establishment of an Edmonton food council, as well as improving education around eating and growing local.
Concerns have been mounting about planned development in the city’s north east, which is home to some of the best agricultural land for urban farming.
“I’ll agree that some agricultural land should be preserved, but the key question becomes, what does ‘some’ mean,” says Peter Ohm with the City of Edmonton’s Urban Planning and Environment. “Rather than debate how much land should be saved, what they decided to do was to create a tool kit…that counsels our decision makers.”
The “took kit” is meant to help city council decide what measures should be taken to preserve agricultural land, where, and in what format.
You can find the strategy and more information about a planned public hearing on the strategy by clicking here.
In addition to the online access, highlights of the draft strategy will also be available at Open Houses being held October 3 & 4, 2012.
Date: Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Time: 10 am – 8 pm
Location: City Hall
Date: Thursday, October 4, 2012
Time: 4 – 8 pm
Location: TransAlta Arts Barns, 10330-84 Avenue
Citizens will also have an opportunity to share their views with City Council about the draft strategy at a Special Executive Committee Non-statutory Public Hearing on Friday, October 26, 2012. Citizens who wish to speak can register in advance online and by phone (780-496-8178), or in person the day of the meeting.
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