10 Garden Site - Jill Sinclair
CITY OF
CHANBASSEN
'0 City CenttT Drive, PO Box 147
Chanhassen, Minnerota 55317
Phone 612.9311900
GentTal Fax 612.9315739
. 'nginetring Fax 612.937.9152
'ublic Safety Fax 612.934.2524
IItb www.ci.chanhassm.mn.us
/0,
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Scott Botcher, City Manager
FROM:
Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist
DATE:
March 7, 2000
SUBJ:
Santa Vera Community Garden
Since 1995, I have annually contacted Dean Johnson regarding a piece of property
he owned located on the comer of Santa Vera Drive and Kerber Boulevard. This
triangular-shaped 0.82 acre parcel is directly across the street from Centennial
Hills Senior Housing and I have always believed that it would be the perfect spot
for a community garden site due to its proximity to so many apartment and
townhome residents. Mr. Johnson was always reluctant to turn the piece over to
the city for a garden since he felt there was some worth to the site. Unfortunately,
despite the value he placed on the parcel, it was never maintained and became an
eyesore for the neighborhood. This winter it came to my attention that the
property now belonged to the city due to tax forfeiture and I would like to request
that the City Council consider creating a community garden on the site.
Developing a community garden would require time and money from the city, but
the value of it as an amenity to the community would far outweigh the investment.
There are considerations to take into account in order to undertake this project.
Site preparation would include having the property surveyed to find the property
lines, grading the site to create level garden plots, installing a water source and
possibly constructing a fence around the site. Approximate site improvement
costs would be:
Survey (staking)
Grading
Water
Fence (optional)
Chain-link
Wrought iron
Picket
$800
in-house
$1200 - $1500
$5.60/ft. + gate + comer posts
$25-$30/ft. + gate + comer posts
$14/ft. + gate + comer posts
The property would be sectioned into plots, perhaps 20' x 20' or so, and residents
would apply with the city to have a plot for the growing season. A nominal fee
could be charged to cover water usage. Annual maintenance for the site would
include adding nutrients and roto tilling in the fall and disking and sectioning the
garden plots in the spring.
Ie City of Chanhassm, A "owinK community with clean lakes, quality schook, a charmin! downtown, thrioin! busin",es, and beauci/ù! parks, A "eat place to live, work, and pla~
Community Garden
March 7, 2000
Page 2
Currently, there is no specific funding for the project since it was not anticipated during budget
preparation. It would be nice if Íl1\provements to the site could be made this summer so that
gardening could begin in the 2001 season. I would like to request that the City Council consider
developing a community garden space on this site and give direction to the staff as to what
approach to take.
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