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Council approves sale of parcel to Sprout for community garden after debate over location and impacts
Summary
Council approved Ordinance 67 to sell a parcel to Sprout for $1 (with a buyback clause) to create a community garden. Council discussion focused on neighborhood impacts—traffic, compost odor, vermin—and whether an alternate site would be better; proponents emphasized contingency and limited city cost.
The Little Falls City Council voted to approve Ordinance 67 on March 2, selling a city-owned parcel to Sprout for $1 to be used as a community garden, with a contingency that the parcel reverts to the city if the garden is not established within a year.
Proponents said the park board and the housing authority recommended the sale and that Sprout had grant funding to support the project. "Sprout came to the park board and wanted to put this at Gamrod Park… The HA who owned that property also thought it was a good idea and recommended the sale of this property to Sprout for a dollar to put in a community garden," a council member said during debate.
Opponents raised concerns about placing a community garden adjacent to residences and a school. Council Member Meyer argued the location could bring traffic, smell and vermin issues related to compost, and that alternatives on the west side or parcels near St. Francis should be considered. "Compost smells… compost piles draw in vermin," Meyer said, urging the council to consider neighbor impacts and a broader plan before final placement.
Staff said the city could adopt site-specific policies—fencing requirements, composting rules, and standards for greenhouses—to mitigate impacts; none of those policies were in place before the vote. Council members acknowledged they supported community gardens in principle but differed on whether this parcel was the right site.
After discussion and a roll-call vote, the council adopted the ordinance. The sale includes the stated one-dollar purchase price and a repurchase clause if the garden is not developed as agreed. Several council members emphasized the city can require design and operational standards when conveying the property.
