Elmhurst Wades Back Into Tent Controversy

Elmhurst IL

15 November, 2021

10:23 AM

Description

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst is looking to wade back into the controversy over whether to allow tents where people can grow food. In 2019, a split City Council decided to continue to ban such tents, often called hoop houses, in nearly all cases, except low tunnels or low cold frames over crops. This upset many residents, who said the prohibition would prevent them from growing food during the winter. But on Tuesday, the city's Zoning and Planning Commission is set to reconsider the issue. City Manager Jim Grabowski is recommending the city allow tents up to 120 square feet and 9 feet in height. The tents could not be up for more than six months a year, according to city documents. Under Elmhurst regulations, structures on a residential parcel cannot cover more than 30 percent of the lot. Under the city's latest proposal, a 120-square-foot tent would not be allowed if it combined with other structures to exceed the 30 percent. In reaction to Grabowski's proposal, residents said in written comments that they were glad the city was reconsidering. But they also contended 120 square feet was too small. Vallette Street resident Martha King said the city should allow 400 square feet or 30 percent lot coverage, whichever comes first. "As an Elmhurst resident who works in agriculture and also maintains a large fruit and vegetable garden to help supplement my family's nutrition, I am very supportive of efforts to increase our local food supply and particularly for the right of citizens to grow their own food," King said in her written comments. "The larger structures are necessary in order to support an extended growing season and are not disruptive." Two other residents also pushed 400 square feet. "So happy to hear that Elmhurst is finally getting on board with regulating these in a positive way," resident Vicky Fitzmaurice said. "Unfortunately, the current proposed size allowance is only 120 sq. ft. — not nearly enough to effectively allow winter gardening in our area." She noted Chicago allows 700 square feet. "Please consider adjusting the proposal to increase the allowed square footage," Fitzmaurice said. "Otherwise, there's no point. At 120 sq. ft., the space will not be large enough to hold the required heat mass for our winters, nor to produce enough food." Fremont Avenue resident Barbara Lonergan said the ability to grow food is especially important. "As we've seen with both climate change and the COVID pandemic, global food security is at continual risk — production disruptions lead to local availability limitations and price increases, interrupted transport conduits and diminished food safety," she said in her comments. The commission plans to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.