Planning Commission Minutes 2015 08 13

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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes August 13, 2015 Page 6 of 22 County so there may be some monies in there to start prepping the east side, but we have no plans to put plots in there next spring. Tengler says that since there is residential impact on the west and south side, why not start on the east? Heaney says the east side would take a lot more clearing and more preparation work. Initially, we were on the west side because there is a water tap there. Public Works also said the best location was on the west side. We were several months into that planning before we found a water tap on the east side in the weeds. At that point, we had already set up the west side design. O'Connell asks how do people access this garden? Can anyone can walk through or do you need a key? Heaney says they do not plan to have a fence. People will be able to access it. The tool shed will be secure. O'Connell asks is required that people grow food or can you grow flowers and plants? Heaney said we have talked about that including having a flower bed in front because it would look great for the community to see when they drive, walk, or bike by. I do not think there are any restrictions at this point. The leader of the citizens group can answer that. Moline asks about who the plots will be available to? Only Louisville City residents? Heaney says Louisville City residents. Russell says I assume you will be over -subscribed, so how do you pick your 25? Heaney says we have had several discussions about that and we think a lottery system is probably the fairest way. Russell asks if gardeners are responsible for watering their own plots? You mentioned organic vegetables. Is there a requirement that this is organic? Can people bring in chemicals? Heaney says it is strictly organic gardening. We want to promote sustainable practices. Pritchard asks how you will be dealing with compostable items? Will you be making your own compost? Heaney says gardeners can bring their own compost, but we will not furnish it. Perhaps initially when we are putting the beds in, we may supply compost, but afterward, gardeners will be responsible for their own. This is the model other gardens use. Pritchard asks how waste is dealt with? There will be no cans on any of these parcels. Will we expect gardeners to clean up after themselves and take their cans away? Heaney says there will be strict contracts put in place with the gardeners. They are responsible to clean up at the end of the year; responsible to not let the water run all night; responsible for their general behavior in the garden such as no pets, no lights, dawn to dusk; and encouraged to ride their bike or walk. They are held to this with an agreement. There will be a committee than can discipline them up, kick them out of the garden, and withhold their deposit. Pritchard asks how do you catch somebody? There may not be more than 4 or 5 individuals in the garden at any given time. I am concerned for the neighborhood since we are not providing any garbage receptacles, and they are not mulching. I have a concern about them policing themselves because there is no one watching. McCartney says it is a performance standard. If we start receiving complaints about trash, we will contact the garden association to see if they will deal with it. It could be something that might be modified. If we need to find space for trash receptacles, we will figure it out. Pritchard asks if there are trash receptacles at the adjacent ballfields? Russ says there is an outhouse but no receptacles.