Ordinance No. 131 Consolidated Land Use Ordinance

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4. Interim Uses. 1. Subject to applicable provisions of this Ordinance, the following are considered to be Interim Uses in the Garden Overlay District: 1. Community Gardens. 2. Market Gardens. 2. Interim Use Permits granted under this Section expire on March 15th of each year. The permit may be renewed annually, at the discretion of the City Council. Application for and approval of an Interim Use Permit shall follow the procedures set forth in Section 17.5 of this Ordinance. In addition to the requirements of that Section, the applicant shall provide a written summary of the proposed uses of fertilizers, pesticides and other agricultural chemicals in the maintenance of the gardens. In approving an Interim Use Permit, the City Council may attach such additional conditions as it deems necessary to assure compatibility with surrounding land uses, including conditions relating to the use of agricultural chemicals on the property. Permitted Accessory Uses. Subject to applicable provisions of this Ordinance, the following are allowed accessory uses to any validly issued Interim Use Permit in any Garden Overlay District: 1. Hoop houses, cold frames and similar structures used to extend the growing season. 2. Benches, planting beds, compost bins, rain barrels and similar structures used to facilitate the growth of plants. 3. Off-street parking and loading areas. 6. Prohibited Practices. 1. No motorized implements or machinery may be used in the cultivation and maintenance of any garden, except for plowing of the plots between the hours of 8:00 A.M and 5:00 P.M, Monday through Friday. Motor vehicles of less than 7,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight may be used to deliver and carry away equipment, supplies and product. 2. Animal husbandry and aquaculture are not permitted activities within a Garden Overlay zone. 3. No fuel, fertilizer, pesticides or similar chemicals shall be stored on the property. 7. General Regulations. 1. The minimum land area for application of a Garden Overlay shall be ten acres. 2. All gardening activity and all structures and equipment shall be setback at least 20 feet from the property line of any property not included within a Garden Overlay Zone, and at least 150 feet from any dwelling. 3. All gardens shall be divided into garden plots, separated from other plots and from required setback areas by unpaved walkways of at least 6 feet in width. No single plot shall cover more than 10% of the total land area of the property on which the plot is located. 4. Off-street parking and loading areas shall be unpaved and shall not exceed 15% of the lot area covered by garden plots and required walkways. 5. The property owner is responsible for the collection and disposal of litter on the property. 6. The hours of operation for a permitted garden are half hour before sunrise until half hour after sunset. 7. The property owner is responsible for ensuring compliance with all other applicable laws, ordinances and regulations, including city ordinances and watershed district rules governing wetlands and stormwater control. Updated January 2025 — Gem Lake Consolidated Land Use Ordinance No. 131 64