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Town of Barrhead to sell part of the Schneider Lands

Sale puts the future of the Community Garden in doubt, at least at its present location
cropped-Community Garden Oct.16
The Barrhead Community Garden's future in its present location is in doubt once again after Town of Barrhead councillors approved the sale of the three acre lot that it sits on. Barry Kerton/BL

BARRHEAD - The question of whether or not Barrhead’s Community Garden will get to stay at its present location will be up to the new landlords.

On Oct. 13, after an in-camera session, Town of Barrhead councillors approved the sale of a three-acre parcel of what is commonly referred to as the Schneider Lands, on the west side of town — just north of the apartment buildings along 53rd St. and south of the Shepherd’s Care facility.

Chief administrative officer Edward LeBlanc said the sale price and who it was sold to will not be made public until the final sales agreement is signed. The parcel in question is adjacent to 53rd Street and the company hopes to either sell or use the land for residential development.

The parcel has been home of the Community Garden for the last seven years, however, for the last two years, its future has been in limbo.

In July 2018, council gave the society until the following spring to relocate (that was extended by an additional year). In December 2018, councillors voted 6-1 to enter into a 10-year agreement for the use of an undeveloped two-acre parcel of land at the intersection of 50 Ave. and West Boundary Road in the southwest corner of Beaver Brook Estates.

The municipality deemed the move necessary after it decided to intensify its efforts to develop the property which is zoned as Direct Control.

In a May 12 in-camera meeting, they extended the agreement to allow the local not-for-profit group to continue operation for one more growing season.

And it looked like the Community Garden might be able to stay for another season. In conversation with the Barrhead Leader about three weeks ago, LeBlanc said council had not made a final decision, but there was a 99 per cent certainty the garden would be allowed to stay for another season. A similar conversation at about the same time with a representative of the garden suggested the same thing.

Society spokesperson Marilyn Flock was disappointed to learn about the sale adding that no one from the municipality had contacted her about it.

She added she hoped the society could make arrangements with the new owners to extend their stay, noting they had just done a lot of work to revitalize the soil through mixing in compost materials, something she said was sorely needed.

"After being in limbo for the last couple seasons not a lot of work was done in preparing the soil," Flock said. "As a result, the yields were not as productive as they have been."

Land appraisal

Councillors discussed the findings of an appraisal the municipality had completed on the Schneider Lands by Squair Appraisals and Consulting based in Clyde.

LeBlanc noted the entire 14-acre Schneider Lands are actually two separate lots, 5.07 and 9.03 acres in size. The five-acre lot was appraised at $194,000 and the larger nine-acre lot at $253,000.

Exclusive agreement

Councillors also approved a recommendation by administration to enter into an exclusive listing agreement to sell the remaining 11-acres in the Schneider Lands to the commercial Edmonton-based realty company Cushman and Wakefield.

"[They] are the same company that is working with the [County of Barrhead] in regards to their industrial park," LeBlanc said. "It is a good fit. This way the company can promote the entire community."

 

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Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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