City Council postpones $1 sale of West Side lot to Sprout after neighbor-notification and land-use concerns

Little Falls City Council on Feb. 2 postponed consideration of Ordinance No. 60, which would have sold a vacant parcel by Westside Lions Park to nonprofit Sprout for $1, directing staff and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) to notify adjacent property owners and return with feedback.

Alex, who presented the purchase agreement to the council, described the document as the latest version and said the sale includes a condition that Sprout must develop the parcel as a community garden within one year and that the city retains a $1 buy-back option should that use cease. "The purchase agreement that was in the packet is the actually, the last version," Alex said, summarizing the timeline and the buy-back clause.

Several council members expressed concerns about the location and the city's prior investments in the land. A council member opposed to the sale argued the city had spent money—removal and abatement on two parcels—and questioned whether selling a buildable lot for $1 was in the city's fiscal interest: "We have a lot of money invested into that property...I do not see that, but I am against it," the member said.

Others noted the parcel's small size and pointed to earlier, unsuccessful community garden efforts at other sites. One council member urged more neighbor outreach before approving a sale, saying neighbors "haven't even had an opportunity because it's the exact same thing with that we had with the fence." Greg, a city staff member, confirmed the HRA recommended the sale and that notices and publication affidavits were on file for the planning commission's public hearing.

Council debated procedural options and ultimately rescinded the pending motion to adopt the ordinance, then directed staff and the HRA to send letters to adjacent property owners, report back with any responses (written or verbal), and return with more information. Council members agreed staff should attempt to provide that information at the next meeting or by the council's first March meeting so Sprout's timeline would not be unduly affected; staff said they would work on outreach immediately.

The council did not vote on the sale at the Feb. 2 meeting. The item will return with neighbor feedback and any additional information the council requests, including clarification on zoning and the property's prior improvements.