A hat tip to DU'er Joanie Baloney for her community garden victory

[MindPilot]

This all started back when Michelle Obama visited San Diego to show support for community gardens. While attending that event, JB discovered the huge financial and zoning roadblocks which prevent the establishment of community gardens and mounted a letter-writing campaign. She sent letters to city officals and to Mrs Obama.

Yesterday, JB's city councilmemeber annouced that they will actively work toward amending the permit process and waiving the fees.

The proposed amendment would clear away one of the highest of those hurdles and allow community gardens to spring up on vacant commercial land citywide. People wanting to create community gardens would only have to get a no-fee permit and abide by city rules regulating fence height, water use, and hours.

"The government is going to make it extremely easy to do," said Councilman Todd Gloria, who sits on the land use and housing committee.

The proposal falls short of eliminating restrictions on community gardens in residential areas. That issue is more complicated because community planning groups and residents are more likely to resist them. But Gloria said the city was working on residential zoning, too.

His office said it expects the ordinance for commercial land to come before the City Council for approval in June or July.

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/survival/article_8e642f46-34ae-11e0-9e0f-001cc4c03286.html

[patrice]

1. K&R!!!!

[frylock]

2. nice work, Joanie!

:applause:

[Joanne98]

3. Congrats Joanie Baloney!

:yourock:

[virgogal]

4. Congrats,Joanie----Boston has had one since 1942

and it's still going strong. We need more of them,lots more.

http://www.fenwayvictorygardens.com/

[MindPilot]

5. Hopefully more will start to spring up.

This is one place when government does need to step out of the way.

[myrna minx]

6. Excellent! K&R for Joanie.

:applause:

[Joanie Baloney]

7. Thanks!!!

I am so thrilled!! I am not in any way responsible, but it's such an awesomely awesome feeling to have something you worked for bear fruit. I hope that community gardens spring up all over the San Diego metro area...and beyond!!

:)

-JB