TAMPA - It largely was a procedural matter: sending a draft amendment defining and regulating community gardens to the Hillsborough Planning Commission for review.

Once the commission voted and made its recommendation for or against the provision, city officials would craft a final amendment for the Tampa City Council's approval. A public hearing also would be scheduled.

But the proposed amendment nearly didn't make it past the city council's initial review as Councilwoman Gwen Miller maintained the regulations must include notification to neighborhoods before anyone plants a community garden. As drafted, garden organizers would apply for permits and be approved administratively, without notification of neighbors.

On Thursday, the council functioned with a bare quorum of four members: Miller, Chairman Tom Scott, Charlie Miranda and Mary Mulhern. With four votes required to approve sending the amendment to the planning commission, Miller initially voted "no."

She changed her vote after the city's legal staff assured her language would be added to require public notification.
Councilwoman Mary Mulhern, who has been a community garden advocate, said garden groups would not go to the trouble of starting a garden unless they had neighborhood support.

"No one is going to do this if you don't want it," Mulhern said. "There is nothing to be afraid of. It's greens and flowers."

Councilman Charlie Miranda also raised objections to the amendment, though he supported sending it to the commission.

"There's got to be a neighborhood component," he said. "The neighbors must sign on."

He noted that before the city installs traffic-slowing speed bumps on a neighborhood road, a majority of residents must favor the idea. The councilman also had concerns about noise and fundraising events at garden sites.

A proposed 2-acre maximum size for gardens could create "mini-farms," potentially competitive with farms in Wimauma or Thonotosassa, Miranda said.

"I don't care how you look at it, this is business," he said.

But garden supporters said 2 acres could be too restrictive, and land size often is not included in other cities' ordinances.

Vegetables and flowers are harvested by the community gardeners for their use.

Several community gardens have been planted in the past year, most on privately donated, residence-size plots. The Seminole Heights Community Garden on Violet Street recently celebrated its one-year anniversary.

East Tampa organizers started a community garden in East Tampa a few months ago on 28th Avenue. They have had offers to expand to other lots in the area.

Other neighborhoods have started or expressed interest in gardens, including Palmetto Beach, Southeast Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights and Terrace Park.

The gardens provide healthy food and are resources for area schools, said Robin Milcowitz, co-founder of the Seminole Heights' garden.

"We have lots of kids that come down to learn to grow stuff," she said.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.