HB 3096

Abstract

Amends the Municipal Urban Agricultural Areas Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality may, by ordinance or resolution, establish an urban agricultural area committee for the purpose of transforming vacant lots in a disadvantaged community or communities within the municipality into an urban agricultural area. Provides that, before the municipality either approves or denies the creation of an urban agricultural area, the urban agricultural area committee shall: (1) review the geographic description of the proposed urban agricultural area and make recommendations as to the adequacy of the geographic area; (2) seek and compile a list of qualified farmers that would operate in the proposed urban agricultural area; (3) estimate the number of jobs to be created, maintained, or supported within the proposed urban agricultural area and the type of products to be produced; and (4) make recommendations as to how the vacant parcels shall be transformed into usable agricultural or aquaculture lots if the vacant lots are not immediately ready for a qualifying farmer. States the duration of such urban agricultural area. Allows agricultural or aquaculture use of vacant lots within the urban agricultural area, even if not zoned for such use, with reasonable setback, height, livestock, and poultry regulations.