Summer 2021 Hometown Messenger

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

Community Garden to get growing in new home City partners with SPU and county to relocate popular community garden Vegetables, fruits and flowers will soon be blossoming in a new community garden thanks to a partnership that will relocate the Backstretch Community Garden to its new home at 10th Avenue and Main Street.

A graphic drawing of the proposed warehouse building WPT is building in the Hentges Industrial Park.

State's largest speculative building coming to Shakopee WPT Industrial REIT recently purchased 40 acres in the Cretex Industrial Park and plans to construct a 500,000-square-foot distribution center. The project is believed to be the largest speculative building in the state. With the rise of e-commerce, the demand for distribution centers has increased, said Director of Planning and Development Michael Kerski. The new building will have more than 100 truck bays, making it attractive to businesses needing warehouse space. The city is not aware of any future tenants. The project will have a tremendous impact to the city’s tax base with little impact to the city’s existing infrastructure, Kerski said. Located on the east end of Shakopee, it will have easy access to Highway 169. Hentges is also developing an additional three lots on the 65-acre Hentges Industrial Park site. The developer has started site work in preparation for reconstruction of Stagecoach Road and a new roundabout, which they are funding. Learn more at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/ currentdevelopment . Subscribe to park project updates The city has a variety of parks and trail projects under construction and in development. Get the very latest updates subscribing to text and email updates at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/subscribe.

The garden will be located on open space owned by the city and Shakopee Public Utilities. The garden, which is operated by the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), had been operating near Canterbury Park since 2016 but was looking for a new site with continued development in the Canterbury area. “The site at 10th and Main makes perfect sense for a garden since it offers good light and visibility,” said Department of Planning and Development Director Michael Kerski. “And more access to fresh and healthy produce is something the community told us it wants." SPU donated the installation of a waterline to the garden area and the University of Minnesota Extension is helping move the garden bed. A fence will be installed later this summer. The CAP Agency will continue to use the space to grow produce for food shelf participants and community members are invited to rent beds and garden together. "Many people cannot find fresh fruits and vegetables near their home or what they can find is limited and expensive," SHIP Coordinator Jayme Carlson said. Community gardens can help people eat a healthier diet and lower their risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and more. "It also improves physical activity, mental health and provides a sense of community," Carlson said. For more information or to reserve a plot, contact Carlson at jcarlson@co.scott.mn.us.

ABOUT THE GARDEN The goal of the garden is to provide the community access to growing their own fruits and vegetables to establish healthy eating habits. The CAP Agency food shelf occupies half of the garden beds and provides an opportunity for clients and WIC families to access fresh, organic produce grown from the gardens. SHIP’s healthy eating in the community strategy focuses on policy, systems and environmental changes to improve access to healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.

Council supports moving forward with citywide property maintenance code In April, the City Council gave consensus support to moving forward with a citywide property maintenance ordinance and rental housing licensing program. The ordinance would establish regulations for property owners to maintain interior and exterior building standards. Similar to a state building code, the International Property Maintenance Code sets maintenance standards for residential properties. The council is anticipated to approve the code later this summer. It is a first step to establishing a rental inspections program throughout the city.

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