By Wendy Wesley, RDN

Contrary to popular belief there is not a Publix across the street from another Publix in many areas of our city.

As evidenced by what we health equity leaves a lot to be desired in St. Petersburg. While we we focus so intensely on the redevelopment of Tropicana Field our attention is while we ignore Midtown which has gone without a grocery store for four years.

COVID 19, hunger and deep health inequities are a real issue in St. Petersburg and that is the true visual blight in this city. A garden at Allendale is the antithesis of visual blight.

I ask the Development Review Commission to approve a special exemption modification to add two raised garden beds to grow vegetables. for the residents of St. Petersburg.

I am also requesting that the Commission reject the City’s demands that Allendale Church amend their site plan for a volunteer-run garden which is on their property.

The garden was never intended to be a community garden. It was always intended to be a garden run by church volunteers in an effort to get more nutrient-dense foods into our city.

The City Ordinance on gardens exempts houses of worship. Why is Allendale Church being singled out?

When making their decision I hope they remember our city’s master plan supports urban agriculture.

I will also remind them that this past November that they unanimously supported LDR 2050-05 which allows residents to sell what they grow in their front, side and backyards.

The DRC supported urban agriculture with that vote and now 448-H is on its second reading with city council. Because of their recommendation and the work of the aforementioned people it is likely to pass.

Allendale is not asking to sell one item of food. Rather, it intends to give away what is grown.

I am a registered dietitian and nutritionist who formerly worked on the cardiac and stroke floors of St. Anthony’s Hospital.

Pre-pandemic my patients could not access the foods they needed to manage their chronic diseases of diabetes, congestive heart failure and kidney disease.

Large populations of our city do not have access to nutrient-dense foods.

That shameful fact alone should goad the DRC to approve a special exemption modification to add two raised garden beds to the property to grow vegetables and to reject the city’s demands that Allendale Church amend their site plan for a volunteer-run garden which is on their property