The Michigan State University College of Law

Urban Food, Farm & Agriculture Law

Practicum

Kathryn Hynan

Zoning & Land Use Zoning – written regulations and laws that define how

property in specific geographic zones can be used; to partition by ordinance into sections reserved for different purposes1. Residential Districts2. Business Districts3. Industrial Districts4. Special Districts & Overlay

Areas

Land use – the human use of land, which involves the management and/or modification of the natural environment or wilderness into built environments (i.e. settlements)

Examples of Land Use in Detroit

Proposed by the Detroit Works Project on Land Use:

Residential Use: • Green

Residential• Low-Density• Medium Density • Green Mixed

Rise

Mixed Use:• Neighborhood

Center• District Center• Live + Make• City Center

Industrial Use:• Light

Industrial • General

Industrial• Heavy Industrial

Landscape Use:• Large Park• Innovation

Productive• Innovation

Ecological

Reading City Ordinances

Detroit City Code - Chapter 61: Zoning Article VII: Residential Zoning Districts Division 4. R3 Low Density Residential District 

DIVISION 4. R3 LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT[. . .] Sec. 61-8-64. Conditional other uses.[. . .] (2) Greenhouse as provided for in ARTICLE XII.DIVISION 3.Subdivision H of this Chapter(3) Hoophouse as provided for in ARTICLE XII.DIVISION 3.Subdivision H of this Chapter(4) Signs as provided for in ARTICLE VI of this Chapter.(5) Urban farm as provided for in ARTICLE XII.DIVISION 3.Subdivision H of this Chapter 

Detroit permits agricultural uses by zoning districts in its Zoning Ordinance.  However, Detroit permits specific uses in sub-districts, like a “Low Density Residential District.” Detroit also separately permits narrow uses like “greenhouse” and “urban farm.” These uses can differ with each type of zoning district. 

2 Ways to Gain Access to Land in Detroit....

1. Ownership 2. Leasing

Land Ownership

Advantages • Investment returns• Collateral• Permanence

Disadvantages

• Property tax• Maintenance

1. Accessibility2. Zoning

3. Adequate spacing

Options 1. Land Bank: “a bank whose main function is to

provide loans for land purchase, especially to farmers.”

2. White Picket Fence Program: “allows property owners to buy vacant city-owned lots next to their property for $200.”

Leasing Land

Advantages Initial cost is cheaper No long term

commitment/investment No responsibility for taxes

Disadvantages No guaranteed renewal of

property Zoning Funding

Options1. Gardens for Growth Program: Gardeners can

lease plots of land for 1 year ($25) or 3 years ($75)2. Adopt-A-Lot Program: free program ran by the

City of Detroit; lease ends on December 31st each year