Municipal Strategies to Increase Food Access

cover image for document, Municipal Strategies to Increase Food Access

The second volume of the Healthy Community Design Toolkit is now ready for download and use. This volume focuses on strategies that cities and towns can use to increase food access for their residents. It presents, to date, the most comprehensive range of food access strategies suitable to Massachusetts cities and towns. 

Municipal Strategies to Increase Food Access is intended for use by municipal staff and board members, Mass in Motion Coordinators, and community food advocates, and others. Strategies that affect change in municipal systems are presented first, followed by strategies related to food production and food retail. Each section describes the strategy and the change sought through its implementation; presents the motivations for and challenges in pursuing them; and offers guidance for how municipalities might implement strategies. Case studies describe how strategies have been implemented; Massachusetts examples are highlighted where they exist to give the reader a sense of what is accomplishable in the context of Massachusetts state and local governments. Additional resources are linked or included in the appendix, and these include guidance documents and in some cases, model language for ordinances and bylaws. 

The report is the result of a collaboration between PVPC, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, Massachusetts Municipal Association, and Massachusetts Department of Public Health.  

Documents

MuniStrategiesFoodAccess.pdf

Municipal Strategies to Increase Food Access
This report highlights strategies that cities and towns can use to increase access to health food for their residents. It is the second volume of the Healthy Community Design Toolkit.
MuniStrategiesFoodAccess.pdf

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2603.pdf

Appendix-Massachusetts Community Types Summary_MAPC
A classification system for Massachusetts cities and towns developed by Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2603.pdf

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2590.pdf

Appendix-Model Joint Use Agreement-Walpole
A model joint use agreement from Walpole, MA
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2590.pdf

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2591.docx

Appendix-Model Community Garden Bylaw
Model Community Garden Bylaw/Ordinance based on Springfield's ordinance
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2591.docx

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2602.docx

Appendix-Model Zoning for Fresh Food Market or Supermarket
Model zoning ordinance for fresh food markets of supermarkets from Somerville's draft zoning
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2602.docx

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2592.pdf

Appendix-Model Regulations on Keeping of Animals_Reading
Model Regulations about keeping of animals from Reading, MA
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2592.pdf

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2593.pdf

Appendix-Article 89 Urban Agriculture FINAL_Boston
Example of zoning for urban agriculture from Boston, MA
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2593.pdf

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2594.pdf

Appendix-Article 89 Made Easy
An explanation of Article 89, Boston's zoning provisions for urban agriculture
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2594.pdf

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2595.docx

Appendix-Model Language-Density Bonus for Community Benefits
An example of language to provide density bonus for a development that provides community benefits including grocery stores
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2595.docx

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2597.docx

Appendix-Model Zoning to Eliminate Unhealthy Food
Model zoning ordinance to eliminate or limit unhealthy food
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2597.docx

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2598.docx

Appendix-Model Regulations Prohibiting Self-Service Displays of Candy
Model Board of Health regulations prohibiting self-service displays of candy
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2598.docx

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2599.pdf

Appendix-Model Zoning NRPZ-OSD
Model zoning bylaw/ordinance for NRPZ-OSD
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2599.pdf

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2601.docx

Appendix-Model Ordinance TDR
Model zoning ordinance for transfer of development rights (TDR)
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2601.docx

doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2610.docx

Appendix-Healthy Market Toolkit, Draft 11-19-15
Mass in Motion Healthy Market Toolkit
doc-municipal-strategies-increase-food-access2610.docx

Additional Documents