Another neighbor story - Small town theatrics. I love it.

Post by **LarsMac** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:36 am

This story started out when an unemployed citizen took it upon himself to "pretty up" a corner of town.

Dan Nelson, of Longmont, CO got the town's attention when city administrators noticed his project - A set of flower boxes on an otherwise bare corner.

Misplaced garden: City of Longmont frowns on amateur green-thumb - Longmont Times-Call

The City declared that he must take down the flower boxes, removing all his work from city property.

Public reaction was a bit of a surprise to the city.

The local paper published this editorial:

Editorial: Dan Nelson, may your garden grow - Longmont Times-Call

The next day, The city began to reconsider:

Longmont might allow street-corner garden to stay - Longmont Times-Call

And yesterday, the administrators began helping Mr Nelson to get the paperwork to allow his project to continue

Longmont's illegal gardener applies for permit - Longmont Times-Call

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 11:22 am

That is how local democracy should work isn't it ?

There is a village in West Yorkshire that has gone a step further than that, and the whole thing appears to be growing.........(that was clever.)

Todmorden

Incredible Edible

Post by **LarsMac** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 11:29 am

Bruv;1452620 wrote: That is how local democracy should work isn't it ?

There is a village in West Yorkshire that has gone a step further than that, and the whole thing appears to be growing.........(that was clever.)

Todmorden

Incredible Edible

Yes, local democracy at work.

Though, I suspect that had he gone to the city and applied for the permits first, he would have been turned down. Just kind of how bureaucracy works.

High Threshold · Post by **High Threshold** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 11:43 am

We get Danish television, here in the south of Sweden, and this story is pretty much identical to the one in Denmark. Hmmmmmm. I wonder ....... :yh_think

High Threshold · Post by **High Threshold** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 11:45 am

LarsMac;1452621 wrote: ...... had he gone to the city and applied for the permits first, he would have been turned down. .....

No doubt about it.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 1:18 pm

LarsMac;1452621 wrote: Yes, local democracy at work.

Though, I suspect that had he gone to the city and applied for the permits first, he would have been turned down. Just kind of how bureaucracy works.

Then looks like the fellow has worked out how to "work" the bureaucracy

High Threshold · Post by **High Threshold** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 1:34 pm

Bruv;1452630 wrote: Then looks like the fellow has worked out how to "work" the bureaucracy

Or in simpler terms, "Democracy works!"

tude dog · Post by **tude dog** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 3:21 pm

Allowing this un-controlled activity can subject the city to expensive lawsuits.

What I see here is an arrogance of one individual exposing his neighbors to unwanted liability.

Maybe, me thinks, his time would be better spent

LOOKING FOR A JOB ! ! ?

Lady J · Post by **Lady J** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 7:59 pm

tude dog;1452643 wrote: Allowing this un-controlled activity can subject the city to expensive lawsuits.

What I see here is an arrogance of one individual exposing his neighbors to unwanted liability.

Maybe, me thinks, his time would be better spent

LOOKING FOR A JOB ! ! ?

Hi Tude,

I understand what you are saying but I don't think Mr. Nelson was being arrogant...I think he was just looking to keep busy and found that improving a corner was an admirable choice.

Working for the local government county (part-time) I have become very aware of their concerns for safety (lawsuits) and also being a business owner I can appreciate it.

I am pleased to see that Longmont is working with him; educating him in proper approach...and yes, I agree had he gone thru the right channels from the beginning he would have been denied. Funny how things work sometimes.

Who knows...perhaps Mr Nelson will end up with a Longmont county job installation corner flower beds and maintaining them. Now that would be a sweet ending to this story!

Lady J

High Threshold · Post by **High Threshold** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 10:14 pm

tude dog;1452643 wrote: Allowing this un-controlled activity can subject the city to expensive lawsuits.

What I see here is an arrogance of one individual exposing his neighbors to unwanted liability.

.....

I disagree entirely. An unsightly corner of town is now pleasing to the eye. The assumption here (quite rightly) is that any channel-following endeavour submitted to the city would have been met with nonchalant arrogance by the counseling members and the eyesore would never have been dealt with. It turned out, however, that the citizens circumnavigated a bureaucratic "loophole" responsible for thwarting democratic process. Any additional liability suffered is the fault of the city for dragging its feet and ignoring its population in the first place.

Post by **shinning_like_me** » Sat May 03, 2014 3:03 pm

there is a lot ignored by the city its much much more than its population mannn

Post by **LarsMac** » Mon Jun 30, 2014 9:27 am

A follow-up on this story.

How does your garden grow? Temporarily legal and pretty well, actually - Longmont Times-Call

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Mon Jun 30, 2014 3:59 pm

LarsMac;1458717 wrote: A follow-up on this story.

How does your garden grow? Temporarily legal and pretty well, actually - Longmont Times-Call Will he lose the garden? Looks like he's worked so hard.

Post by **LarsMac** » Mon Jun 30, 2014 5:48 pm

Oscar Namechange;1458782 wrote: Will he lose the garden? Looks like he's worked so hard.

The city backed off on requiring him to take it down for the season. However the permit is only for the growing season.

It has to be cleaned up before Winter comes.

Makes sense. A box full of frozen dead plants would not be pretty to look at.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Tue Jul 01, 2014 5:14 pm

I have similar feelings about Allotments. More often than not they become inner city eyesores after being left untended.

I have suggested to the council that the stretch of wasteland facing onto these flats be turned into what I refer to as "Front Garden Allotments", where tenants of the tower blocks can have the gardens they would otherwise lack. Failing that, make it into a communal garden, where residents can share in the gardening & generally socialise. However, this would not be intended for use in the same way as Vegetable Allotments, but for lawns, flowers & shrubs etc. which would not only add to the appearance of the region, but would increase a community spirit.

I think I might get back to the Council on that matter sometime. They're usually quite good at taking positive suggestions on board. I imagine most of the time all they get is complaints, so anything else they receive must be like a breath of fresh air - especially something that would be so easy to implement.