Canada: Now More Opportunities for Urban Agriculture in Saint-Laurent
At its general meeting on June 6, Saint-Laurent Council granted approval for greenhouses in residential backyards and vegetable gardens in all yards.
News Provided By
Ville de Montréal – Arrondissement de Saint-Laurent
19 Jun, 2023, 08:30 ET
Excerpt:
At the same time, a new “urban agriculture” use was also created for the industrial sector and in some commercial zones under certain conditions. Urban agriculture activities are now authorized inside buildings and on their rooftops. In particular, greenhouses are permitted on all industrial rooftops.
“By democratizing access to urban agriculture in Saint-Laurent, we not only want to meet the growing needs of our residents in recent years, but also take a concrete step towards biodiversity and greening our territory. In addition, this will promote short food chains and local sourcing, opening up opportunities for new, innovative projects such as those already famous on our commercial and industrial rooftops. Beyond that and above all, it’s about continuing our efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and adapt to climate change as part of our 2021-2030 Climate Emergency Plan.”
The second edition of the May Garden Month program was a great success, with nearly 2,000 residents buying seedlings for their vegetable gardens. These Saint-Laurent gardeners will now be able to demonstrate their passion and talent by taking part in the Mon jardin écolo competition for the most beautiful gardens, July 10- 28. Full details are available on Saint-Laurent’s website page.
The amendment to zoning bylaw RCA08-08-0001 with bylaw RCA08-08-0001-161 responds to this trend by expanding access to urban agriculture activities.
From now on, greenhouses will be allowed in the backyards of residential properties, and vegetable gardens in all yards. Up until now, vegetable gardens could only be set up in back and side yards.
By making it easier to set up vegetable gardens in residential areas, Saint-Laurent is giving its residents the opportunity to optimize the use of their land and take advantage of the sunniest yards to grow fruits and vegetables.
