SALISBURY — As the Salisbury Planning Board discussed the request to start an urban farm, one member raised concerns about composting and using animal waste on crops.
Livingstone College has requested adding agriculture to areas zoned institutional-campus. The college wants to resurrect an urban farm off Brenner Avenue that was active in the 1950s and ’60s.
Because the change would have an impact on institutional-campus zoning throughout the city, not just on Livingstone’s 45 acres on Locke Street, a Planning Board committee has been studying the request. Committee Chairwoman Thomasina Paige made a report at Tuesday’s board meeting.
Board member Jo-ann Hoty asked if the college planned to use animal waste on vegetable plants.
“As a biologist, I have a problem with that,” she said.
The practice can spread viruses and possibly contaminate vegetables with salmonella, making people sick, Hoty said.
Preston Mitchell, the city’s Planning and Development Services manager, was out of town but listened on speaker phone and offered comments.
Joe Fowler, Livingstone’s urban farm consultant, has extensive experience in agriculture and is aware of composting regulations, including temperature requirements, Mitchell said.
Mitchell encouraged Hoty to come to the next committee meeting at 3 p.m. July 29 to raise her concerns.
Hoty said she was glad to hear that Fowler is aware of regulations and would try to attend the meeting.
“If I don’t, I will trust that everybody else really grills him on that,” she said.
Josh Canup, also a committee member, said the text amendment that will come from the committee for consideration by the Planning Board will address the urban farm concept throughout the city.
Livingstone’s request was a catalyst that pushed the city to understand existing regulations and prepare for future urban farms, especially those used for education, not production, Canup said.
High schools and other organizations may want to create small agriculture programs as well, he said.
“Livingstone was a point of departure for getting into the conversation,” Canup said.
While Livingstone may sell vegetables at the farmers market, the college’s 5-acre farm would be for educational use, not production, Paige said.
The proposed text amendment probably will suggest allowing urban farms — those for personal or educational use — in the city limits but relegating commercial farms to Salisbury’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Contact Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.