PORTLAND'S FOOD ZONING CODE UPDATE PROJECT

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Air date: 
Mon, 06/20/2011 - 12:00am
Revamping Portland's zoning codes to encourage the flourishing of urban farming

Portland is becoming a mecca for urban farmers but the city's zoning codes have yet to fully catch up with the growing phenomenon of guerrilla vegetable gardens and urban livestock. Recognizing the connections between food and the community’s environmental, economic and physical health, the City of Portland has initiated a project to update its zoning code to promote traditional and emerging ways of producing and distributing food. On this episode of Locus Focus host Barbara Bernstein is joined by Steve Cohen, who heads all things related to food for the city's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. We talk about developing new zoning codes that encourage the proliferation of farmers markets, community gardens, community food distribution and urban farm animals, while also ensuring that the urban agricultural movement in Portland is well integrated and beneficial to the surrounding neighborhoods.

Steve Cohen manages food policy and programs for the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. He focuses on all aspects of a sustainable food system including planning, food security, education, economic development, urban agriculture, purchasing, composting, and climate change. Steve also staffs the Portland-Multnomah County Food Policy Council. Over the past 30 years he has played key roles in establishing indoor and outdoor festival markets, performing arts venues and community spaces in Oregon.

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