The Uesugi Farms Pumpkin Patch has had its fair share of
excitement the past few months. After last September’s approval by
the Morgan Hill City Council to purchase the land for more than $4
million, the patch was flooded Oct. 13 when as much as 40,000
gallons of raw sewage flooded the farm after nearly 7 inches of
rain fell
By Sarah A. Peterson
The Uesugi Farms Pumpkin Patch has had its fair share of excitement the past few months.
After last September’s approval by the Morgan Hill City Council to purchase the land for more than $4 million, the patch was flooded Oct. 13 when as much as 40,000 gallons of raw sewage flooded the farm after nearly 7 inches of rain fell, leaving owner Tache Ludewig with thousands of ruined pumpkins to contend with.
And now, after a closed session discussion Wednesday night, the City Council decided to withdraw its offer of $4.45 million for the land located on Monterey Road south of the city limits, on which the flooded patch sat.
City Manager Ed Tewes said the main reason for the Council’s decision had to do with unforeseen expenses.
“Whenever a public agency acquires property, they are required to relocate its residents,” he said. “A private agency does not.”
City Council member Marby Lee acknowledged that there were other factors that came into play, but it was mainly the relocation issue that broke the deal.
“We made the discovery that there were some people who had homes on the property,” she said, “and that relocation fees would be involved.”
Tewes said that issues like this are precisely why due diligence exists.
“This is the period during which the purchaser can identify any issues which may lead him to conclude that the transaction is not a viable option,” he said. “We looked at the total cost of acquiring the property, and of relocating its residents, and it was more than we were prepared to spend.”
City Council member Greg Sellers sees the council’s decision as a civic duty.
“We thought the land looked like an attractive option for future park needs,” he said, “but the city has an obligation to properly use the taxpayers’ funds.”
This does not mean, however, that the decision is written in stone.
“I don’t think the door is entirely closed, necessarily,” Lee said, “but we’re just looking at what’s on the table right now.”
Sellers is in total agreement.
“There might be other opportunities to consider the purchase and use of that site in the future,” he said, “but the bottom line is that we have to do what it right for the city.”
