Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Gardens topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Opelika CRA approves license agreements for community vegetable gardens on three parcels
Summary
The Opelika Community Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously Feb. 10 to authorize license agreements allowing community vegetable gardens on three specified parcels within the CRA area; board members asked staff about geographic equity and property addresses were read into the record.
The Opelika Community Redevelopment Agency on Feb. 10 approved a resolution authorizing license agreements with property owners to establish and maintain community vegetable gardens on three parcels in the redevelopment area.
Interim Executive Director read the resolution and placed three sites on the record, naming two street addresses and one folio number as the locations the resolution would cover (listed in the meeting record as 2141 Alibaba Avenue, 141 Alibaba, 1800 Alibaba Avenue and folio 0821220032205 for the third parcel). The director said staff will sign the license agreements with property owners after the board’s approval.
Board members questioned whether the selected sites concentrated benefits in the city’s East Side. Board member Santiago urged the CRA to consider projects on the West and South sides as well; the director and other members responded that CRA benefits are limited to properties inside the CRA boundary and that the city offers other assistance programs for properties outside the CRA.
A resident asked what kind of garden would be planted; the director replied the planned gardens are vegetable gardens. Board members and staff said the gardens are intended to provide locally grown food and community benefits.
The chair called a roll-call vote; Board member Bass, Board member Kelly, Board member Santiago and Board Chair Russell each voted yes, and the chair announced the resolution had passed.
The board did not provide an implementation timetable in the meeting discussion beyond staff’s statement that agreements would be executed after board approval. The director indicated staff were “ready to start” and would sign agreements with property owners following the approval.
