A Smithers couple is hoping boulevard gardens can bloom in town.
Earlier in June, Kayhan Ghatavi and Sarah Harvie placed two garden boxes on the town boulevard in front of their home on Second Ave within the high density residential/downtown commercial zone. They said they put the boxes over chipped concrete, gravel and weeds.
Two days later they were notified the boxes contravened a highway bylaw and action was requested by the end of summer.
They spoke as a delegation to Smithers council on July 9 and asked council to allow an "after the fact" permit to maintain these boxes on the town boulevard and they asked the town to develop guidelines for boulevard gardening consistent with municipalities across the province and country.
“We're hoping to demonstrate the enormous potential benefits of boulevard gardening in Smithers which is consistent with many, many of the many statements from the vision objectives and policies of the OCP,” Harvie explained to council.
“We are hoping to convert unused urban land to enhance sustainable agriculture and increase food security in our community.”
She added the garden boxes can also promote community connection with neighbours and visitors to the community and can also enhance the natural beauty of the downtown neighbourhood.
Harvie said they have lived in many different places across the country that promoted this idea and it seems like a natural fit for Smithers.
Ghatavi said they took into account safety and accessibility and allowed 39 inches to the street from the box.
“So when you get out of your car door, there is plenty of room for the car door and a good three feet to walk yourself to the sidewalk, almost 10 feet between the box and the fence,” he added.
“I think one of the big concerns speaking with town staff relates to snow removal. And we recognize this as a challenge. We live in a snowy place. And I understand that snow gets placed on our boulevard. So all I can say here is that a lot of municipalities with large amounts of snowfalls have boulevard gardening and so we asked for some flexibility to consider some modifications.”
Ghatavi said he has lived in some municipalities that require homeowners to take care of the maintenance of boulevards in front of their homes.
“Boulevard gardening does enhance social wellbeing,” said Harvie. “It reduces lots of stress, depression, anxiety, improving diet because people can grow healthy food, improving dexterity strength and aerobic capacity, and actually gardening delays dementia, greater than walking, increasing walking education and decreasing alcohol intake.”
Mayor Gladys Atrill was intrigued by their presentation.
“It is very compelling. And I think probably the challenge that council is facing is the specific location. And the ‘after the fact’ piece,” she said. “When I hear you talk about the benefits of gardening and all of those things, and I'm very compelled, we do have some operational challenges.”
CAO Michael Dewar said town staff are willing to meet with the couple.
“So that's what I'm proposing is that we reach out, have that meeting, to have that coordinated information to help you better understand our perspective with the challenges and then we can find solutions from there that works for you,” he said. “I really wish we had easier solutions on this one because I think you guys [have a] very neat initiative, but there's challenges.”
Atrill was satisfied to leave this in the hands of town staff for the time being.
“I really appreciate your enthusiasm and your passion for this,” added Dewar. “We're happy to work with you, as we have that discussion. There's lots of ways we can move forward and then eventually bring something back to council."
