Updated: Fridley Farmers Markets Wouldn't Include Front Yard Stands

Update (June 11, 2012): City of Fridley staff clarified in a June 7 memo that under a proposed zoning code change to allow and permit farmers markets, without a permit. The city would get involved only if the produce stand created a traffic or parking problem or otherwise created a nuisance, according to the memo.

Original post (May 20, 2012): Farmers markets could pop up almost anywhere in Fridley under a proposed ordinance change that gets its first reading at Monday's city council meeting.

The exception: most properties in residential area couldn't host markets. Farmers markets would be allowed at properties under every other type of zoning, from commercial to heavy industrial.

The sale of garden products in residential areas "could cause disruption and alter the characteristics of the residential neighborhoods, by bringing increased traffic, congestion and parking problems," according to the city attorney. So the proposed ordinance change would only allow farmers markets if the residentially zoned property holds an institution, such as a church, school or clinic. 

In the full agenda for Monday's meeting (see PDF), the city attorney said that the city can use its police powers to enforce zoning ordinances restricting the sale of homegrown produce—despite language in the  Minnesota Constitution (Article XIII, Section 7) stating: “Any person may sell or peddle the products of the farm or garden occupied and cultivated by him without obtaining a license therefor.”

The Fridley City Council meets Monday at 7:30 p.m. at . The second reading of the proposed farmers market ordinance changes is set for June 11, 2012.