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May 15, 2008 6:52 pm US/Central
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Putting Limits On Number Of Garage Sales
MINNETONKA, Minn. (WCCO) ―
A spring time ritual is getting some heat in one western suburb. The city of Minnetonka is thinking about limiting the number of garage sales residents can have to just two per year.
But some residents say governing garage sales is a bit much.
At Heidi Rush's garages sale you can find fishing poles, jewelry, plants and a whole lot more. She said the city is going too far with its proposed lawn sale law.
"Two is tight, I think three is more fair," said Rush. "I guess I don't feel its right that the city tries to impose laws that restrict anybody from doing anything out of their own house."
City officials say they've received complaints of parking problems such as too many cars flooding neighborhoods and disturbing the peace.
"It's not a bad idea. I can kind of see both sides of it. Our neighbor over here has little kids and dogs outside and there's a lot of traffic going by today. So if I was him, I'd be worried about that," said Pamela Searles.
The proposal would also require residents to sell only items that belonged to them or their friends.
"What I think is the problem is when people bring in semis that they purchased merchandise from a local store at a liquidation price and they bring it back to their home and they sell it," said garage sale shopper Patty Nolt.
However, some say the restriction will tighten the pocketbooks of folks looking for a bargain, or those who just want to get rid of some things.
"Garage sales are an asset to a community. It allows people to clean out their houses in a timely way and I think it's also a way to network with people," said garage sale shopper Marsha Betz.
Several other communities also have limits. Edina holds homeowners to just one a year while Minneapolis, Maplewood and St. Louis Park residents are allowed two.
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