Recommendations:

THAT Council approve one of the following recommendations;

Option 1

THAT Council confirm its commitment to the Community Gardens Policyas approved in
2011 (Appendix A);

OR

Option 2

THAT the development of a community garden at Sturdy Park be terminated until such
time as a review of the existing policy is conducted to address issue regarding the
establishment of new community gardens in City parks. A moratorium on any new
community gardens on City lands would be in effect during this review.

OR

Option 3

THAT the community garden at Sturdy Park be approved by Council as a as a one year
pilot program until such time as a review of the existing policy is conducted to address
issues regarding the establishment of new community gardens in City parks.A
moratorium on any new community gardens on City lands would be in effect during this
REPORT
To: COUNCIL

Community Gardens

Date of Meeting: May 26,2014
Prepared By: Paul Willms, Sustainability Planner
Approved By: K. McVittie, Commissioner of Community Services
Department: Community Services
Date to Senior Management Team: May 21, 2014
Report No.: CSD/14-33
File No.:
Ward No.: 5
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review.



Background
Council approved the Community Gardens Policy (attached as Appendix A) in
November of 2011 in response to a number of community requests and for consistency
with the objectives stated in the Citys Official Plan and the Region of Waterloos Official
Plan.

When the policy was presented to Council, it was noted that it had been developed so
as to minimize the need for City staff to be involved with the creation and maintenance
of community gardens in accordance with available resources and departmental
priorities.

Earlier this spring, staff received a request from a community gardening group seeking
to establish a community garden in the Preston Area. CSD staff applied the criteria
prescribed in the Community Gardens Policy and evaluated a site within Sturdy Park for
the creation of a community garden.

The garden organizers distributed an information sheet to residents in the area and
began to establish the garden in the first week of May. A number of residents in the area
have contacted staff and members of Council expressing concern regarding the
establishment of a garden in Sturdy Park and a petition seeking the removal of the
garden has been received through the Clerks Office and appears as a communication
item on the May 26 Council Agenda.

Existing Policy/By-law

Current Policy C-10.160 Community Gardens Policy

Financial Impact

N/A

Public Input

As per the policy, staff has liaised with the local garden organizers and selected a site
accordingly. A general neighbourhood consultation process was not undertaken for this
project. Staff typically consults with neighbouring residents regarding park matters that
involve significant construction (e.g. playground equipment, basketball courts, skate
parks) and is resourced to do so. Tree plantings, park bench installations, flower beds
and other items of this nature do not typically warrant a public consultation process,
however the concerns of the residents regarding this change to Sturdy Park is
acknowledged and appreciated by staff.

If a comprehensive public consultation process for community gardens is preferred by
Council, staff would recommend either option 2 or 3 from the list of recommendation
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options. Both of these options would allow staff to present to Council the necessary staff
resources required to apply this level of oversight to the community gardens process.

Internal/External Consultation

CSD staff has consulted with neighbouring municipalities, local garden groups and the
police regarding the establishment of community gardens. The consensus achieved
from these consultations is that some neighbourhood opposition to community gardens
is common but when the community gardens are managed effectively, there is wider
degree of community acceptance and appreciation for them. It should also be noted that
there is a great deal of support for the Sturdy Community Garden generated among the
local community and that the proposed garden is intended to support local education
programs through the Montessori School and to provide food for the local food bank.

Comments/Analysis:

The Sturdy Park project is the first community garden established under the 2011
Council policy. In selecting the site, Staff has followed a process consistent with the
goals and objectives of the policy. The policy as originally proposed to Council
restricted community garden sites to be located within 100 metres of the nearest
residential building. Council decided to eliminate that restriction following a presentation
by a representative of the Waterloo Region Community Gardens Council who
suggested that such a requirement was overly restrictive.

Community Gardens have been incorporated in public spaces for many decades but
have only recently been gaining prominence in municipalities. Many municipalities
including Waterloo and Kitchener support community gardens in public open spaces
(parks and natural areas) and have established policies to facilitate their development.
The community garden movement is well-established in the Waterloo Region and the
Preston Garden Group is enthusiastic about the Sturdy Park Project.

Sturdy Park is a 2.5 ha park located adjacent to Rose and Lowther Streets in the
Preston area. The Park is connected with Linear Park, a 19.8 ha park that stretches
along the bank of the Grand River throughout Preston. Sturdy Park features a
playground, passive open space and treed areas. The concerns outlined in the petition
presented to Council include the following major points:
1. That Sturdy Park has been used for active recreation (soccer, football) for many
years.
2. That Sturdy Park is used by dog walkers.
3. That the park, in its current state, is visually appealing and that the creation of the
garden will compromise the aesthetic value of the park.

It is the opinion of staff that the creation of the garden will not preclude dog walkers or
active sport participants to continue to enjoy these activities. The park and adjacent
Linear Park are sufficiently large to accommodate all uses. It is recognized that the
creation of a community garden will impact the appearance of the park and may be
considered less aesthetically appealing.

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Summary

Staff is seeking direction from Council regarding the policy.

By selecting Option 1, Council will re-confirm its commitment community garden and
evaluation procedures and existing resources.

By selecting Option 2, Council will be asking staff to review the policy and to develop
recommendations to address the concerns expressed by the Sturdy Park community. In
choosing this option, staff will likely require several months to review the options and to
develop a strategy to allocate sufficient staff resources to oversee a community gardens
initiative. The garden would be terminated and re-seeded and staff would work with the
garden group to establish and prepare a new site following the review.

By selecting Option 3, Council will be allowing the Sturdy Park only to proceed in 2014
with a commitment to the community to review the park operation after the current
growing season and determining if further modifications are required to the operation or
the policy.
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* NEW POLICY
COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT + HOUSEKEEPING
@ AMENDMENT
COUNCIL/CORPORATE POLICY MANUAL PAGE 1



*C-10.160 Community Gardens Policy

Policy Statement:

The City of Cambridge Community Services Department (CSD) recognizes that
community gardens can contribute to the health and well-being of the population by
providing opportunities for individuals and groups to participate in agricultural and
horticultural activities and to harvest fruits, vegetables, and grains that promote
healthy eating and nutrition. The City of Cambridge Community Services Department
will encourage and support the development of community gardens in suitable
locations throughout the city.

Section 7.10 of the City of Cambridge Official Plan (Draft 2011) is consistent with the CSD
policy statement:

The City supports a strong local food system through its Farmers Market, temporary
farmers markets, and community gardens. The City recognizes that community gardens
contribute to the overall parks and open space system and access to locally grown food.

Community Garden Definition:

For the purposes of this policy, a community garden is an area of publicly or privately-
owned land, rooftop, or other space managed and maintained by individuals, and/or
non-profit organizations, to grow and harvest food crops and/or non-food ornamental
crops, such as flowers for personal or group use, consumption or donation.
Community gardens may be divided into separate plots or may be farmed collectively
and may include common areas maintained and used by community garden members
(City of Cambridge Official Plan (Draft 2011) definition.

Criteria for land suitable for CSD supported community gardens:

1. Property must be City-owned or Leased on a long-term basis by the City and
designated as open space. (Community Gardens may be located on non-city
lands but must be pursued through a relationship with the property owner.)
2. Wherever possible, property should be accessible to pedestrians and persons
requiring the use of mobility devices (wheelchairs, scooters, etc.)
3. Community Garden must not present a conflict to existing uses of the property.
4. Community Garden sites must not require the removal of any significant
vegetation, landmarks or amenities.
5. Community gardens sites should be in a location that is visible for surveillance
purposes.
6. Property must have suitable parking facilities and/or acceptable levels of on-
street parking in proximity.
7. Property must not require vehicles to be driven across open space lands to
access the Community Garden.
8. Property must have suitable soil conditions.

Criteria for Consideration of the creation of a community garden:



Appendix A
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C-10.160 Community Gardens Policy Contd


1. A community garden will be considered where it benefits at least 7 separate
households.
2. Community gardens must be organized, planned, administered and managed by
community volunteers.
3. Community gardens must be available to the community-at-large or to the
community served by a sponsoring organization and must not be used to grow
commercial produce or plants.

Role of the Community Services Department:

Updated: November 2011
Appendix A
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C-10.160 Community Gardens Policy Contd

CSD will, in accordance with available resources:

1. Evaluate potential community garden sites and delineate garden areas in
selected sites.
2. Supply top soil, fill and organic mulch where surplus material and transportation
is available (i.e. when there is no additional cost incurred by the City to provide
such materials).
3. Subject to approved budgets, provide new community gardens with a one time
grant of $1,000 to support the acquisition of tools, equipment, storage facilities
and/or services.
4. Monitor the Garden Sites periodically for inappropriate activity.

Role of the Volunteer Community Garden Administrators

1. Allocate garden plots in a fair and equitable manner
2. Monitor the use of garden plots and the conduct of gardeners
3. Coordinate the collection, removal and composting of waste vegetation
4. Ensure compliance with all legislation, policies and regulations
5. Ensure that the necessary services for the community garden are coordinated
(e.g. composting, waste removal, watering).

Adopted by Council:
November 14, 2011

Updated: November 2011






Appendix A
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