Surviving the “urban edge”

Greenhouse production along the urban “edge” near residential areas can lead to conflicts with residents. If your greenhouse is located in or near a community, you must take steps to ensure that you are a good neighbor.

Plant-protection structures such as greenhouses, hoop houses, shade structures and related accessory buildings are regarded by many people as eyesores, especially if they are not well maintained. Moreover, sunlight reflecting off of glass or plastic materials used for protection coverings can result in a substantial amount of glare that can be both hazardous to travelers on public roadways and visually displeasing to neighbors.

Appearance isn’t the only issue. Greenhouse operations located in residential areas can be the source of many unwelcome sounds. Noise levels from fans, heaters, radios, etc. can be significant.

Minor annoyances can develop into strong emotional resentment from the surrounding community. Conflicts with neighbors can eventually lead to increased governmental regulation of greenhouses. For example, an amendment was drafted a decade ago in Carpinteria, Calif., to limit new construction of plant-protection structures and increase building and landscaping regulations related to their construction. Structures affected included greenhouses, hoop houses, shade houses and packing sheds. This amendment passed because neighbors felt that these structures adversely affected the character of the community.

Quick tip 1
Use setbacks and provide on-site parking. If you’re building new plant-protection structures and accessory buildings, check with the county or city planning department. Follow local codes and ordinances carefully.

Even for structures that are not regulated, it’s a good idea to set them back from public roads and view corridors, taking advantage of natural land contours to hide them and reduce glare from glass or plastic coverings. Loading docks should be hidden from view to reduce noise impacts and visual signs of activity. Be sure on-site parking for employees, trucks and visitors is adequate to prevent street parking.
 

Quick tip 2
Use landscape buffers. Where feasible, use landscape buffers to screen greenhouses and other related structures that are visible at property lines. This will help to obscure objectionable views and reduce noise levels and glare. Solid wall fencing may be prohibited by local ordinances; if you use chainlink security fencing, cover it with climbing vines. Solid tall hedges and screens are usually not recommended because they obscure background views and can create a tunnel effect when installed on both sides of a roadway. Instead, use a variety of landscape material planted in layers of staggered heights to create a more natural appearance. Accent entry drives and office areas with color and attractive landscaping to divert the eye from the less aesthetic areas.

Quick tip 3
Use blackout screens if you light crops at night. If you’re lighting crops at night, invest in automatic retractable blackout curtains within growing areas to prevent interior night lighting from being visible outside your and causing “light pollution.” It can be expensive to retrofit greenhouses with these screens, but it’s less costly in the long run than complaints from neighbors about light annoyance.

Quick tip 4
Maintain greenhouses and other protection structures. Maintain your plant-protection structures so that they do not appear shabby or dilapidated and are free from graffiti. Keep the grounds free from weeds; make sure all refuse, soil, compost piles and plant containers are covered and out of sight. This will also help with pest and disease management.

Julie Newman is an environmental horticulture advisor at the University of California Cooperative Extension.

Have a question? You can write Julie at jpnewman@ucdavis.edu.

Photo by Jack Kelly Clark, courtesy of the University of California