09-28-2016 Workshop Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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601-7 601.070 LAWN MAINTENANCE 1. Preamble. The city council finds that there are a variety of landscapes in the city that add diversity and a richness to the quality of life. Certain areas in the city have been left, or allowed to go, unmaintained. These have been accepted by the vast majority of the city residents as appropriate and as part of the unique quality of life in this community. There are community expectations, however, that once an area has been disturbed, landscaped, or otherwise maintained, that area will continue to be maintained in a consistent manner. When vegetation in that area is not continually maintained, it becomes aesthetically unpleasing and violates community standards. Property that appears neglected may decrease the value of adjacent properties. In addition, if vegetation is not properly maintained, there may be the following adverse impacts on public health, safety, and welfare: a. undesirable vegetation such as common buckthorn, quackgrass, and other weeds may invade and threaten to supplant other more desirable vegetation; b. vegetation that causes allergic reactions, such as ragweed, may develop; and c. tall vegetation along driveways and public roads may impair visibility when entering or exiting public roads. The city council also finds that it is in the public interest to allow citizens to choose the type of landscaping on their properties and to make changes in that vegetation. As a protection for the larger community, however, this change in vegetation must be properly managed and maintained and the length of the transition period must be minimized. The council finds that the establishment of prairie and meadow plant communities is an acceptable landscape treatment in the city. This requires special consideration, however, because weeds will grow during the first few years of transition before the new vegetation predominates and will appear like neglect. Therefore, the council finds that this type of vegetation is acceptable if it is properly maintained to shorten the transition period and if notice is given of the intended result. In contrast, the transition to trees and other woody species does not require special consideration because untended grass or weeds are not a necessary part of that transition period. Rather, the transition period is shortened by eliminating competition around the seedlings through such techniques as organic mulch. The city council enacts this ordinance to balance the public interest in a variety of vegetation with the public need to ensure proper maintenance of that vegetation. The council finds that establishing a height limitation for certain vegetation is in the best interest of the public health, safety, and welfare as outlined above and is a reasonable maintenance standard. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this section the following words have the meanings specified below.