Community garden or private garden as a primary use on a vacant lot provided the following conditions are met:
(A) The garden area shall be limited to growth of vegetables, fruits and flowers only. Maintaining beehives, livestock and poultry shall be prohibited.
(B) No garden area shall be located in the FRONT YARD AREA which is defined as the required front yard setback distance for the zoning district in which the community garden is located or the average distance between the front property line and the font of the adjacent buildings, whichever distance is less.
(C) A grassy buffer strip at least three feet wide shall be provided along the side and rear property lines.
(D) The garden area shall be properly maintained throughout the year by:
(1) Weekly mowing the grassy areas.
(2) Weekly removing the weeds and grasses from the actual garden.
(3) Weekly collecting rotting vegetables/fruits from garden areas and providing off-site disposal of this waste.
(4) Weekly collecting and removing all trash and debris this is deposited on the site.
(5) Providing for all season end removal of all dead plant growth/waste.
(E) No overhead lighting shall be permitted on the site.
(F) One non-illuminated sign no exceeding four square feet in area and six fee in height shall be permitted. The sign face shall be located parallel to the front property line and shall not be located in the front yard area. The content of the sign shall be limited to identification of the site as a community garden, sponsorship contact information and rules/guidelines for the community garden.
(G) No parking areas shall be permitted on the site.
(H) No retail sales of product shall be allowed on the site.
(I) No portable restrooms shall be permitted on the site.
(J) One utility shed shall be allowed on the site under the following conditions:
(1) Maximum area of 150 square feet.
(2) Must be located within the rear yard setback and at least five feet off the side and rear property lines.
(3) Maximum height of ten feet.
(K) Any power equipment and attachments, hand tools, fertilizer, chemicals and other equipment and materials that is kept on the site shall be stored within a utility shed.
(L) The following miscellaneous improvements shall be permitted on the site:
(1) Trellises.
(2) Raised planting beds
(3) Benches.
(4) Covered trash receptacles.
(5) Row covers.
(M) Hours of operation shall be limited from sunrise to sunset.
(N) Row covers are permitted to provide the extension of the growing season. Any row cover shall be limited to a maximum width of six feet wide and a maximum height of five feet tall. Row covers can be utilized between March 1 and May 31 and between September 1 and December 1. At all other periods the row cover shall be removed from the site. The row cover structure shall be properly maintained while placed in the garden and the fabric covering the structure shall be repaired or replaced if the material rips or becomes loose.
(O) Exemptions. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to any premises or lands containing a community garden maintained by the United States of America, this state, or any unit of local government, primary school, secondary school or college.
(Ord. 12-3343, passed 1-23-2012; Ord. 12-3352, passed 5-21-2012; Ord. 21-3650, passed 10-18-2021)