A Kansas City Realtor in Support of the Proposed Urban Farming Ordinance
- fresh broccoli from my urban garden
You’ve probably heard about the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s proposed urban farming ordinance. The new ordinance would permit residents to sell home-grown produce at their homes – something that’s not currently allowed. The city council is set to vote on the ordinance Thursday, June 10th. You can review some of the details of the ordinance in this Kansas City Star article from June 2nd.
While there seems to be healthy support for the ordinance, much of it organized by a group called Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture, there has been some organized opposition as well – particularly from local real estate brokers and agents. They fear that urban farmers who sell produce from their homes will adversely affect the property values of their non-farming neighbors. A recent email from one agent included a flyer that contained the following assertion:
“It decreases property values because of the High traffic (auto & people) on & off the block, strangers constantly in neighborhoods increases crime risk & exposure, safety issues for children, workers & customers parking on the street coming & going.”
I respect other real estate industry professionals and their right to opinion, but I would like to clarify that I am a realtor who supports Kansas City’s proposed urban farming ordinance (although I disagree with the ordinance’s prohibition of front yard “row crops”). I believe that the presence of active, urban farmers is a good thing for our neighborhoods. The idea that the presence of enterprising gardeners and farmers will somehow ruin a neighborhood’s property values is unfounded.
Let’s keep in mind that property values are determined by what people value. The growing wave of interest and appreciation for urban agriculture and locally produced food is undeniable, and I believe that community gardens and active urban farmers add value to our neighborhoods. In addition to increasing the availability of healthy food, urban farming operations can help contribute a real sense of place and community to a neighborhood. These are values that healthy, sustainable neighborhoods have always found beneficial.
If you agree with me, and support the urban farming in Kansas City, please send an email in support to city_council@kcmo.org and mayor@kcmo.org.
Whether you’re a realtor or a resident (or both), I would like to know how you feel about the proposed ordinance. Are urban farms a good thing for Kansas City’s neighborhoods? What do you see as the risks or the benefits ? Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!
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As a person who would probably be a “non farming neighbor”, i think it would be wonderful to have some urban farming on my street and/or nearby. How handy to know your neighbor has some fresh tomatoes on hand if you’re itching to make some salsa? I just can’t imagine anyone’s personal backyard crop creating a frenzy of activity that would effect property value…. probably not more than yard sales create in the summertime.
I’d much rather buy a fresh cucumber or zucchini from my neighbor than at the store, and if i can just walk down the street to get it? How convenient and environmentally friendly!
I echo the above response. The type of person that cares about growing and selling their own vegetables is also a community minded person that cares about their property and the general well-being of the neighborhood. I hope this ordinance passes!
Good comments. Yes, in a neighborhood like yours Barb (Westwood) or mine (Brookside), we simply don’t have the acreage to produce enough crops to cause much commotion. And in areas where they do have the acreage to accommodate a large CSA operation and full-time working farm, the houses are so far apart that the arguments against this ordinance just seem irrelevant.
I have almost a third of my PV yard in raised beds. I grow corn, without rows, tomatoes, peppers, salad greens, onions, garlic (very mellow), cukes, cantalope, and watermelon. With a dog in the yard the tree rats don’t have a chance.
I’m one of the folks working hard to make KC a more gardening and farming friendly place. I am so appreciative of your statement, Sarah. Gardeners and farmers are generally people who LOVE their neighborhoods and want to make them better! We want Kansas City to get all the best benefits of urban food production and we want to work hand in hand with others who also care about the health and well being of the community.
Thanks, Katherine. Glad to be in the company of so many people who think we should all be more proactive about gardening and urban food production!
Besides being beautiful and practical, gardens bring people together and help create community. Thank you for seeing the value in home gardens, urban farms and green communities.
I’m late in commenting, but thanks for weighing in on the red herring “property value” complaint that is so commonly trounced out at times like these. The last couple years have shown us that the economy at large has more effect on property value than any control we assert over our neighbors. Financial times like these are when cities need to be taking chances and trying to distinguish themselves. KC has an opportunity to put itself on the map as a progressive bastion of urban agriculture but I suspect that won’t really happen.
Sarah, thanks for blogging on this. I am an eco Realtor and totally support the new Urban Agriculture Ordinance and believe it is better for the community and for a more sustainable way of living. I am starting an Eco Team of Realtors to be an advisory group to KCRAR – would you be interested in being part of this group?