New Port Richey City Council members passed the first reading on two ordinances Tuesday that would allow for residents to operate for-profit gardens on their property.

The “Urban Agriculture Ordinance” would allow such gardens to exist in all zoning districts within the City, but restricts the keeping of livestock and other operations, including indoor growing, aquaponics, and hydroponics, to industrial zoned areas. The ordinance also restricts the sale of goods from the gardens in residential areas, allowing only for sales under the existing rules for garage sales. Garage sale permits are allowed once every six months, for up to 72 hours.

The ordinance was proposed and supported by the City’s Environmental Committee, and was supported Tuesday by a large turnout. The committee’s chairman, Dell deChant, was present on Tuesday to support the ordinance’s passage, saying that it is “one of the most outstanding urban agricultural ordinances” he’s ever seen, and noting that he and the committee have been pushing the measure for more than three years. The committee says that Urban Agriculture and community gardens raise property values, reduce crime, and engage community members with each other. The evidence presented in this regard is quite overwhelming, and a number of cities have had success with such measures. Supporters of the ordinance point to a documentary, called “Growing Cities” as a good example.

Rather than approving the ordinance outright, Councilors Judy deBella Thomas and Chopper Davis seemed adamant about pushing the issue to a separate meeting, despite what appeared to have been an already lengthy period of review, first with presentations made by the Environmental Committee on the topic in September 2014 and November 2015, and now review with the City’s Land Development Review Board (LDRB) and the Environmental Committee.  The concerns they cited were similar to the LDRB, saying they were concerned about property values and the possibility of gardens being located to the front of the property. However, based on the facts present, it seems possible that LDRB members, deBella Thomas, and Davis, did not read the ordinance in its entirety, or do not understand its scope. Councilman Bill Phillips also voiced concern, saying that he thought the ordinance was “broad, in every category.”

Councilman Jeff Starkey didn’t seem to feel the delay was necessary, saying “I am not in favor of pushing it down the road for a work session, Mr. Davis” and vowing to make a motion to approve the ordinance that night. He did just that, and Councilman Phillips seconded the motion.

In the end, the ordinance passed its first test unanimously, but with one of the more spirited debates this year in Council chambers.

“I think it’s going to be trendsetting, I really do,” said Jeff Starkey, “I think it’s going to grab people’s attention and put us on the map.”