LEWISTON — Plans to allow community gardens everywhere in the city picked up an easy City Council approval Tuesday night.
Councilors voted 7-0 to allow the gardens, similar to downtown’s popular Lots to Garden program, in all city zoning districts but the Resource Conservation District. That district is home to city green spaces and includes the Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary, Garcelon Bog and lots along the Androscoggin River.
The change would also legalize one community garden, at the corner of Pine and Howe streets, which was inadvertently built where it was not allowed.
The city allowed community gardens in four zoning districts downtown — the Riverfront, Downtown Residential, Centreville and Mill districts. The Pine and Howe streets intersection is located in the city’s Community Business zone.
St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, a program run by St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, created the Lots to Garden program 1999. It encourages neighbors to adopt vacant lots and turn them into community vegetable gardens. The program has helped build 15 gardens and green spaces in four diverse neighborhoods in Lewiston.
The city’s zoning allows residents to develop vacant lots as community gardens with the owner’s permissions. They need permission from the lot owner and must register with the city and pay a $32 use permit fee.
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