In a message dated 4/23/03 4:03:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< Adam, isn't a thing legal if it is not specifically prohibited? >> In Land Use zoning practice: There is a zoning code which designates certain uses (residential, commerical, manufacturing, agricultural, etc.) for specific geographical areas in a municipality. Within a zoning code, there are therefore conforming and non conforming uses. Sometimes, when there is change in a neighborhood (as when in NYC, a manufacturing area like Soho, where the light manufacturing lofts got converted into first artists and then millionaire's lofts, the living lofts were first "legalized" and made "permitted non-conforming uses." Then as developers forced out many of the remaining businesses (i.e., manufacturing jobs for working class people) the zoning of the area was changed, but the remaining manufacturing businesses became "grandfathered" old zoning uses. Thus, residential became "the conforming use", and manufacturing became the "non conforming use". Now a "permitted use" means that a use can be permitted under either the "conforming use" or as a "permitted, non-conforming use." under the municipality's zoning regulations. The process is political, that is why it is important for communty gardeners to be knowledgable of the process and where possible, be in a position to affect the zoning process through their elected officials or a members of local community zoning advisory boards. I sit on my community planning board's Land Use and Zoning committees - I lot of meetings at night, but very, very helpful... Best wishes, Adam Honigman ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden