This HIA analyzed the potential health effects of implementing an Urban Agriculture overlay district, which would introduce intense farm uses such as livestock, community gardens, hoop houses, market gardens, and community gardens, in Cleveland. The HIA found that many of the proposed uses that this zoning district allows can benefit health, including access to fresh fruits and vegetables, community cohesion through the establishment of gardens, potential economic opportunities, and providing a productive reuse of vacant land. The study also identified several unintended adverse impacts to human health through the increase in animal waste produced by farm animals, potential exposure to carcinogens in insecticides, and increases in noise and odor levels.
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This Health Impact Assessment Report first appeared in The Cross-Sector Toolkit for Health. The Cross-Sector Toolkit for Health was originally developed by the Health Impact Project, formerly a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts. The creation of this resource was supported by a grant from the Health Impact Project. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Charitable Trusts, or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
