By Scott Sherman

Recently, the San Diego City Council unanimously approved an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone, a program that will help expand community access to fresh produce through a property tax incentive for urban agriculture on vacant, blighted land.

County Supervisor Ron Roberts and myself advocated for the new program.

The program will provide communities throughout the entire city an economic tool to incentivize the development of community gardens on eyesore properties. An Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone reduces the property tax of a participating parcel owner in exchange for a minimum five-year contract for the usage of the site for urban agriculture.

The new measure is made possible as a result of State Assembly Bill 551 introduced by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D), which was signed into law during the 2013 state legislative session.

I appreciate the support of my council colleagues for approving my measure that will incentivize the development of urban agriculture in all San Diego neighborhoods as well as give residents and property owners an additional tool to transform blighted property in their communities.

The new development will also help further our mission of developing and maintaining an equitable, healthy, and sustainable food system in San Diego.

Once the measure is approved by the county government in the next couple months, our office will be looking for empty lots in the community and property owners that may be interested in the new program. If residents may know of locations for a potential community garden, please contact my office at 619-236-6677 or email [email protected].

—Scott Sherman represents District 7 on the San Diego City Council.