{"id":26097,"date":"2025-05-09T14:16:32","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T18:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/?post_type=article&#038;p=26097"},"modified":"2025-05-13T14:46:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T18:46:22","slug":"pomona-ca-composting-zoning","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/es\/article\/composting-for-community\/pomona-ca-composting-zoning","title":{"rendered":"Pomona, California \u2013 Zonificaci\u00f3n para Compostaje de Agricultura Urbana"},"template":"","class_list":["post-26097","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry","article_type-local-policy","initiatives-composting-for-community","topics-on-farm-composting","topics-planning-and-zoning","impact_areas-climate-and-environmental-justice","impact_areas-food-security","authors-sophia-jones"],"acf":{"details":{"featured_image":"","background_color":"tan","article_type":[37],"initiative":15,"display_event_fields":false,"start_date":null,"end_date":null,"start_time":null,"end_time":null,"time_zone":"America\/New_York","virtual_event":false,"location":"","topics":[99,103],"impact_areas":[18,16],"abstract":"On July 1, 2024, the City of Pomona, California adopted a comprehensive update to the City of Pomona Zoning and Development Code. The updates removed many barriers to siting and carrying out community composting as part of urban agriculture operations.","authors_tax":[629]},"sidebar":{"title":"\u00cdndice"},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On July 1, 2024, the City of Pomona, California adopted <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pomona.legistar.com\/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6724198&amp;GUID=C193E082-711F-426F-AFF1-EC3CA5C05CE4&amp;Options=&amp;Search=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ordinance No. 4345<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which approved a comprehensive update to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pomonaca.gov\/home\/showpublisheddocument\/6904\/638579564309330000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">City of Pomona Zoning and Development Code<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The zoning code had previously not been updated since the 1950s. The comprehensive updates removed many barriers to siting and carrying out community composting as part of urban agriculture operations.<\/span>\r\n<h2>Removal of Barriers for Composting on an Urban Farm<\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The updates to Pomona\u2019s zoning code allow community composting as part of urban agriculture activity and designate urban agricultural activities as permitted by rule everywhere at a small scale (using under 3 acres). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At a large scale (using between 3-10 acres), urban agriculture is allowed everywhere with a conditional use permit. There is no longer a special zone for urban agriculture.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small urban farms (less than 3 acres in area) are permitted as a land use in all zones, with relevant use standards<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large urban farms (using between 3-10 acres in area) are conditionally permitted as a land use in all zones, with relevant use standards<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFood Waste Facilities\u201d are only permitted in one of Pomona\u2019s 15 land use zones. However, the definition for \u201cFood Waste Facility\u201d in the updated zoning code specifically excludes food scrap composting at an urban farm or garden, allowing for community composting at a widespread scale.<\/span>\r\n<blockquote><b><i>\"Food Waste Facility <\/i><\/b>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>A facility that accepts food waste to reprocess into compost, or other products, including the use of power-driven processing equipment. Facilities which receive food waste for shipment to another facility for reprocessing or composting are not included in this type of facility.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>\u201cFood waste\u201d means residuals, scraps, expired or discarded food originating from sale, storage, processing, preparation or dining practices, including but not limited to vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products, meats, and the compostable packaging that may be commingled. Does not include the sustainable composting of food waste in conjunction with an established urban farm or urban garden\"<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>\u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pomonaca.gov\/home\/showpublisheddocument\/6904\/638579564309330000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pomona, CA Zoning and Development Code<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> page 5.39 to 5.40<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Composting Use Standards<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The standards for composting on an urban farm (page 5.72) were updated as follows:<\/span>\r\n<blockquote>\"Active compost and compost receptacles must be located at least 15 feet from any interior property line, and must not be located within any designated setback area of the zoning district in which the urban farm is located.\"<\/blockquote>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This provision confines the property line setback rule to only \u201cactive\u201d compost, removing a common space restriction that community composters face in locating mature piles of compost as well as carbon-rich compost feedstocks. This allows for more efficient use of small spaces.<\/span>\r\n<blockquote>\"Composting activities must be conducted in a manner that does not create a nuisance (generation of noise, odors, insects, etc.) nor impact the public health, safety, or welfare of persons within the area surrounding the urban farm, or its participants, employees, or staff.\"<\/blockquote>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The broad, performance-based standard of not creating nuisances relies on the site\u2019s implementation of best management practices that align with their needs, rather than assigning prescriptive standards on size, equipment, or processes in the law.<\/span>\r\n<blockquote>\"The scale of the composting activity must be consistent with the fertilizer requirements for the related urban farm the composting activity is intended to serve.\"<\/blockquote>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By directly tying the allowable scale of the composting operation to the needs of the urban farm, this provision avoids prescriptive and potentially arbitrary thresholds for the size and scale of composting activity. This gives community composters flexibility to meet the needs of the urban farm and an opportunity to educate city officials if the need to justify composting operations presents itself.<\/span>\r\n<blockquote>\"Feedstock inputs may only be imported to the site for purposes of maintaining the health of compost as a soil resource for the urban farm.\"<\/blockquote>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many compost sites, especially at farms, require off-site material to achieve the proper ratio of carbon-rich to nitrogen-rich material needed to make good compost. This standard avoids allotting specific amounts of feedstock that can be brought into the compost system from off-site. Rather, it allows composters and urban farmers to determine and adjust their addition of off-site material to meet the needs of the urban farm.<\/span>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conditional Use Permit Requirements<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a large urban farm (using between 3-10 acres in area), there are several requirements in order to meet the conditions for a permit:<\/span>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>\"Any urban farms must obtain a business license and land use permit with the City of Pomona.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The urban farm operator must submit a maintenance plan and animal care plan, if applicable, including the maintenance schedule of the site and animals, the removal of animal waste, weeds, and debris.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The urban farm operator must submit a composting plan for any active composting proposed on-site.\"<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>\u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pomonaca.gov\/home\/showpublisheddocument\/6904\/638579564309330000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pomona, CA Zoning and Development Code<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (page 5.71)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Submitting a composting plan is a requirement that ensures composting operations meet the best-management-practice-based standards for composting in the zoning ordinance. Composting plans are received and reviewed by the City\u2019s Planning Division.<\/span>\r\n<h2>Community Composter Advocacy and Relationship Building<\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These updates to the zoning code were realized through close involvement and relationship building of community composting and urban agriculture advocates with the City, led by Elinor Crescenzi of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/foodcyclecollective\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food Cycle Collective<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a project of the Pomona-based nonprofit, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gettoknowidi.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Integrative Development Initiative<\/a>. Food Cycle Collective is a collaborative initiative rooted in Pomona that centers composting, bikes, food, and community-building. <\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following years-long involvement with the City of Pomona through public participation at City Council meetings and collaboration with the Planning Division on a land use framework for community composting, Crescenzi was invited by the Planning Division to give input on the planned zoning code updates from the perspective of community composters.[footnote]<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;\">Personal Communication. Elinor Crescenzi. Founding Member, Food Cycle Collective. Phone Call. April 15, 2025.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[\/footnote]<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The feedback process, facilitated by allies in the Planning Division, involved review of policies, giving input on draft language, reviewing changes, many discussions back and forth, and formal advocacy to the Planning Commission via public comment. The whole process spanned upwards of 18 months.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The input process relied heavily on consistent relationship building and finding alignment on values and goals with City planning staff. The hands-on effort and endurance on behalf of the advocates to present their needs and work to find common ground resulted in an outcome that removes barriers and bolsters the operations of community composting sites on urban farms in the City.<\/span>\r\n<h2>More Information<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pomonaca.gov\/government\/departments\/development-services\/planning-division\/general-plan\/zoning-code-update\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pomona Zoning and Development Code<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> - City of Pomona, CA<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/articles\/pedal-power-composting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThrough Pedal-Power, Community Composters Cultivate Deeper Connections with their Community\u201d<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> featuring Elinor Crescenzi - Composting for Community Podcast<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dam.assets.ohio.gov\/image\/upload\/epa.ohio.gov\/Portals\/34\/document\/guidance\/GD%201011_UrbanAgCompostingZoning.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoning Code Model for Promoting Composting and Organic Waste Diversion through Sustainable Urban Agriculture<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> - Ohio EPA<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/resources\/model-municipal-zoning-ordinance-community-composting-and-without-commentaries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Model Municipal Zoning Ordinance on Community Composting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> - Natural Resources Defense Council and Environmental Law Institute<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\r\nOriginal post from May 9, 2025<\/p>","":null,"settings":""}}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pomona, California \u2013 Zoning for Urban Agriculture Composting | Composting for Community<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Composting for Community article by Sophia Jones explores On-farm Composting and Planning and Zoning, focusing on Climate and Environmental Justice and Food Security\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/es\/article\/composting-for-community\/pomona-ca-composting-zoning\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pomona, California \u2013 Zoning for Urban Agriculture Composting | Composting for Community\" \/>\n<meta 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