Council looking at Farmers Market proposal
By A. Lee Graham
A proposal to allow farmers markets closer to urban neighborhoods returns for consideration on Tuesday after the City Council requested more information last month.
The council is expected to consider the concept at this week’s regular council meeting. Pre-council begins at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday March 19, with the regular council meeting starting at 10 a.m. at City Hall, 1000 Throckmorton St.
Currently, farmers markets are regulated as outdoor sales allowed only in industrial districts. But that could change if the city amends its zoning ordinance to allow farmers markets in neighborhood commercial and central business district zones, as well as all mixed-use and “form-based” districts such as Trinity Uptown, Near Southside, Camp Bowie and Trinity Lakes.
At the Feb. 5 council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem W.B. “Zim” Zimmerman questioned whether the city has enough health inspectors to handle the extra duties promised by more farmers markets.
“I’m concerned,” Zimmerman said. “We continue to hear that we don’t have enough inspectors and code people to do the job, and now we’re adding one more responsibility to them,” Zimmerman said.
