After hearing concerns from urban agriculture innovators, the Toledo Plan Commission on Thursday tabled proposed changes to the city code for regulating urban farming in residential neighborhoods.

The proposed regulations, which would define by code the setback standards for gardens, permits for sale and distribution of produce on site, composting and maintenance restrictions, and allowable structures, was deferred to the plan commission's Oct. 12 meeting.

The one-month delay will allow plan commission staff the opportunity to tweak the proposal by meeting with enthusiasts and supporters of the urban agriculture movement.

Tom Gibbons, plan commission director, said work to create the regulations in the city zoning code began in 2013 or earlier.

"We looked at several different communities and came up with what we think are good regulations for monitoring these gardens," he said. "Our concern is the people who live in the neighborhoods."

The proposed regulations call for a minimum three-foot setback for any unenclosed garden from front, side, or rear property boundaries; and gardens not to exceed 85 percent of the area on a parcel of land. They also limit farming operations from occurring after dark.

Sales and distribution of produce grown on garden sites would be allowed if special use permits are obtained through the plan commission application process. If approved, sales would be restricted to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The recommended regulations also would allow agriculture buildings such as greenhouses, hoop structures, cold frames, garden sheds, and farm stands. However, structures larger than 200 square feet and 20 feet in height would require applying for special use permits from the city plan commission.

Urban gardens under the proposed rules would be required to have reliable and legal access to water sources and proper drainage to keep water, mud, and debris from flowing into public right of ways.

Composing restrictions call for limiting compost areas to 300 cubic square feet or 5 percent of the total land area, whichever is less. Animal manures and food scraps from outside the garden sites would not be permitted for use in composting.

Sean Nestor, co-chairman of the local Green Party, asked the commissioners to postpone taking action because of the importance the issue has on the community and the impact it would have on people and groups engaged in urban agriculture.

Among concerns raised by Mr. Nestor is the requirement that a permit would be needed to sell or distribute produce grown in farm gardens, and the financial hardship the $300 permit fee would have on growers.

Contact Mark Reiter at markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.

First Published September 14, 2017, 11:13 p.m.