Agriculture and Urban Farming in Youngstown Ohio

We came to Youngstown Ohio by chance and found a place where we felt that we not only could have a home but be a part of what is the growing movement for the "greening" of America. We bring energy, joy, enthusiam and compassion.

Youngstown Ohio was a place that we were told that a "New City" was being born, and the resurrection of an American dream, and our dreams could soon become a part of the viable Youngstown 2010 plan.

We settled into this property after being told that "Animals were no problem", and our dreams were well within reach. We were directed to take the few simple steps to change the zoning status from Apartments, to Residential / Agricultural. We are in the middle of this long drawn out process, but now need your support for the change.

We look at it as an opportunity to enhance and nuture the land around us. Ohio reads as a place that encourages an agricultural presence and we are bringing this ability to develop and continue such an agricultural charisma.

We would like to engage in urban agriculture and do our part to carry out the Youngstown 2010 plan for green development. We plan to make significant improvements to the property we are purchasing and believe that you will come to find that we are good neighbors with respect for the rights of others.

Our request of zoning change of our property would include changes such as:

EXPANDING: + Crop or tree farming, greenhouses and truck gardening including the sale of products raised on the premises provided that no retail stand or other commercial structure shall be located thereon and no greenhouse heating plant shall be operated within 20 feet of any lot line. + Farm, minimum of 3 acres used for agricultural purposes.

We designed a website www.justajourney.freehomepage.com
and went into great detail to explain our proposed plan. We are asking for permission from the City of Youngstown to allow us to involve our property in light agricultural activities.

The website explains how we plan to keep vegetation barriers, an outside safety fence and individual pasture fence to secure the animals. The website shows photos of the great distance between neighboring properties and our property. Our property is secluded and currently is being wasted by the use as a dumping ground for tires and garbage, which will hopefully be turned into great gardens.

At this time we are asking that you support our application request for zoning reclassification to agricultural and/or R-12.

Our request for a zoning change will not change the zoning classification of the surrounding property lots. To request a change of zoning to YOUR OWN property, you must file an application for a zoning change.

Our property, consisting of 4 acres with additional adjacent acres available, is currently zoned Residential-Apartments, which allows no form of agriculture activities and we are requesting a reclassification to allow agriculture activities on our property.

Please support our efforts in making Youngstown Ohio a safe and decent place to live.