Olympia Planning Commission briefed on agricultural expansion plan 

The Olympia Planning Commission received an update on proposed amendments to city codes that would expand urban agricultural opportunities across residential and commercial zones.  

Casey Schaufler, the city's associate planner, presented a comprehensive proposal to reduce barriers to small-scale farming and community gardens at the Planning Commission meeting on Monday, April 7. 

Rooted in the city's Comprehensive Plan Goal 25, the proposed amendments emerged from a strategic urban farming work group established in June 2020.

This collaborative initiative brought together city council members, Thurston Conservation District representatives, Community Farmland Trust members, and local urban farmers to identify and address challenges in urban agricultural practices.  

Schaufler enumerated barriers to urban agriculture in Olympia, including water availability and the cost of irrigation for production.  

"One of the barriers that we are finding, particularly on vacant lots is that there are no water connections," he said, adding there has been some interest expressed in pursuing urban agricultural practices with the vacant lots.   

The other barrier is farming support structures. Schaufler said the city is looking at ways to support urban agriculture by allowing farming-related support structures, whether by converting existing buildings or constructing new ones.  

Currently, the city permits it as a secondary use. Schaufler added there is a lack of clarity on the change of use and whether changes would trigger infrastructure improvements.  

When it comes to potential barriers or disincentives to farming within the city, Schaufler said zoning is not a major barrier. In most of the residential districts, the city already allows agricultural uses, though as secondary uses. However, commercial-scale operations, such as greenhouses and nurseries, do require conditional use permits.  

For small-scale community gardens, agricultural activities like beekeeping, hydroponics,and on-site produce sales are not prohibited. However, these types of urban agriculture are not currently broadly allowed in commercial districts. Schaufler said it is being proposed to permit the uses to every commercial district, except for auto services districts.  

Schaufler outlined recommended code changes, including:  

• Expand to allow in downtown zoning districts with some limitations (including rooftop and side-of-building). It seeks to broaden agricultural uses across downtown zoning districts, with a limitation on auto services zones. The auto mall will remain a commercial area excluded from urban agricultural expansion.  

• Define changes from other uses to agriculture, as not triggering frontage or other improvements. 

• Clarify that structure changes from non-agriculture to agricultural use are permitted without a land use permit (for example, streamlined process for support structures converting to new agricultural uses). 

The proposal also recommends using the city's existing definition of agriculture, which is the use of land for farming, dairying, pasturing and grazing.

Horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, apiaries, animal and poultry, husbandry and accessory activities, including, but not limited to storage, harvesting, feeding or maintenance of equipment and on-site, sales of agricultural products, but excluding stockyards, slaughtering or commercial food processing. 

Schaufler emphasized that in most cases, small-scale agricultural uses would not require land use permitting requirements, maintaining a streamlined process for community-driven farming efforts.  

However, larger developments would require presubmission review for new building constructions, significant animal husbandry, or educational facilities. It may still trigger permitting requirements. The planning director retains the discretion to waive permitting requirements for projects demonstrating minimal community impact.  

The city staff are also exploring innovative approaches to address water access challenges for urban agricultural projects, particularly on vacant lots lacking water connections.  

Olympia currently offers a 50% irrigation water discount for agricultural uses covering at least half a property's land area.  

According to Schaufler, the Public Works Department does not support the proposal to lower the land coverage threshold or increase the discount, citing potential negative impacts on utility revenues.

He said a potential solution under consideration is allowing temporary fire hydrant meters for irrigation, but this could involve added costs and safety concerns.  

Public Works remains open to exploring hydrant access and funding options, particularly for nonprofit and community-led agricultural projects.