Town officials will be exploring alternate locations for the Sundre Community Garden, after five residents told councillors they are in opposition to the selected location during the council meeting on July 7.
Sundre councillor Myron Thompson made a motion during the meeting that administration officials review alternate locations and present options to council at a later date. The motion was carried.
Greenwood Neighbourhood Place (GNP) officials have $28,000 in place for the project and organizers had planned to start building this month. Council allocated indefinitely two pieces of land for the garden during the April 7 meeting.
The two pieces of land selected for the garden are utility rights-of-way. They are identified as Lot 32MR Block 3 Plan 8010730 and Lot 107MR Block 3 Plan 8010730.
They are located at the intersection of 4th Street NW and 1st Avenue NW. One of the lots is 92 meters by 13.3 meters and the other one is 45 meters by 20 meters.
Morris Fisher expressed his concerns about the location to council during the July 7 meeting. He said the location is on a busy road and he has concerns about who will be taking care of the garden.
“Who is going to pay for the water?” Fisher asked council.
He said there is a community garden in Olds that may be shut down because it is “untidy”.
He suggested other locations for the garden, including east of the Bearberry Bridge by the walking path, and behind the rodeo grounds where the old ball diamonds were located.
Another resident said he was concerned about the limited parking space at the location. He also believes the garden will devalue his property, which is located next to it.
He also doesn't like the idea of a six-foot fence surrounding the garden.
“I would like the councillors to go home tonight, and in the morning, get up and look out your window, and imagine a six-foot page wire fence, and live with that,” he said during the meeting.
Randy Johnston said he lives across from the proposed garden location and doesn't believe it is the right location for it.
“I am not opposed to a community garden, I think it's a good idea. But I really think that you guys didn't do the homework on the location,” Johnston told council during the meeting.
Two other residents spoke in opposition to the location.
But town officials believe the location meets the criteria of the project.
“While these pieces of land are utility rights-of-way, community gardens would not negatively affect the utilities. In fact, community gardens would be ideal for these properties as they are not suitable for permanent development; the only caveat being that any utility work required might disturb the gardens,” Jacci Hager, the town's manager of community services, reported to council on April 7.
Organizers say a community garden will provide an opportunity for residents of all ages to plant flowers or grow food, adding another asset to Sundre. But the intent is to have seniors involved.
A community garden was rated the third highest priority in the town's 2013 Master Recreation Plan.
According to GNP officials, the sites will contain garden boxes, a water source, tree and shrub plantings, a garden shed, a six-foot fence and a small rest area.
There is a committee in place to determine what kind of things to plant in the garden, how high the garden beds should be, and how to spend the funds collected.
It is comprised of Sundre residents, Sundre councillors and town administration officials, Alberta Health Services officials, a nutritionist and the project coordinator.
Federal government officials are providing $25,000 to GNP for the project, through the New Horizons for Seniors Program. As well, $3,000 has been provided from Alberta Health Services.
GNP officials submitted an application for the federal grant in June of 2013.
Cindy Orr, project coordinator for the community garden, and Marita Stermann, executive director for GNP, provided a presentation to council during the July 7 meeting.
They said construction is planned for mid-July and there are 63 plots available for allotment. They noted that the water source is included in the budget.
As for dealing with untidiness, the committee is enforcing a fee for failing to maintain a clean plot.
“A weed control frame (4'x4') will be supplied in each of the garden tool sheds. If there are more than 12 weeds within the frame, gardeners will be subject to a written notice of violation,” states the community garden guidelines.
“Gardeners who do not maintain their plots will receive a written notice of violation with a set date for improvement. Failing to maintain a clean plot will result in a fee of $15 per hour billed to the gardener for plot clean up, and/or your garden box being immediately revoked.”
Orr said she has been made aware of a number of concerns from residents, including site cleanliness, rule enforcement, vandalism, property devaluation, traffic, loss of green space and limited back alley access.
Residents also feel they were not appropriately consulted about the project, she said.
“It is important to note that approaching residents without a detailed plan in place is counterproductive,” she told council.
She said there are many benefits associated with the community garden, including healthy lifestyles, senior participation, education, community spirit, crime prevention, property values, and ecological and environmental benefits as well.
