With Spring seemingly just around the corner the Minneapolis City Council approves an ordinance that allows residents to plant boulevard vegetable gardens.
The ordinance also allows raised garden beds without having to pay $50 for a city permit. Raised gardens are already seen all across the citiy even though codes don't technically allow them.
Council Member Aurin Chowdhury says that fee would have been unfair to renters who need to get approval from their landlords.
"I keep in touch with my property manager," Chowdhury explains. "I talked to folks, but I do know that it would be a very steep climb for them to say, 'yup, we can do a planter bed, we're going to put it on our insurance and we have to sign off on this thing.'"
The ordinance includes restrictions on the types and height of plants that will be allowed on boulevards. There was some concern about blocking fire hydrants and disability parking spaces, along with potentially harming nearby trees.
"What good does it do to say raised planting beds shall comply with the Minnesota State fire code and not impede emergency vehicle access, when a gardener has not been required to have that plan reviewed for this conflict in the first place? I don't think we should require local gardeners to know the state fire code," says Council Member Linea Palmisano.
The current proposal would add edible plants to the list of vegetation that's allowed in the boulevard without a permit. Right now, they only allow flowers and grass to be planted.