NORTH MANKATO — North Mankato has tweaked its relatively new natural landscape ordinance to ease some restrictions and bring it into compliance with a new state law.
Dec 13, 2020
Dec 13, 2020
A seemingly minor dispute between neighbors in North Mankato about the look of a yard offers larger issues to consider, including competing environmental interests and equal application of the law.
A just resolution of the case could reflect well on North Mankato civic life, while an unjust resolution could feed a festering frustration among city residents who would like to promote natural yards and pollinator gardens.
The City Council summoned Edward Borchardt to a hearing last week to discuss and debate his Allan Avenue property, which neighbors described as unkempt and he considers ânatural.â
After hearing from three people supporting Borchardtâs approach to landscaping and two neighbors who say they have complained for years, the City Council cited his property as a ânuisance propertyâ but gave him until June 1 to come into compliance with a somewhat vague city ordinance.