Laserfiche WebLink
SUGGESTED STANDARDS FOR A NATURAL LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE <br /> 1. The ordinance should protect the fundamental right. of. City's <br /> residents to choose their own landscape; <br /> 2 . The ordinance should apply equally to all residents as well <br /> as to the City, County and State, if possible; <br /> 3 . Any restrictions in the ordinance should have a rational <br /> basis; i e. , a legitimate interest in public health, safety_ <br /> or welfare; <br /> 4 . The ordinance must not legislate conformity -or athetics nor <br /> allow residents of the City to exercise control over their <br /> neighbors' landscapes; <br /> 5 . The ordinance should not require the filing of an <br /> application, statement of intent or management plan; and <br /> there should be no . review or approval process or fees <br /> assessed against residents who intend to engage in <br /> legitimate natural landscaping; <br /> 6 . In order to avoid harassment of natural landscapers, the <br /> City's "weed commissioners" who will enforce the Natural <br /> Landscaping Ordinance, and thereby differentiate between <br /> those people who are growing permitted natural landscapes <br /> versus those with unpermitted growth, should be able to <br /> distinguish between the two; <br /> 7 . Enforcement of the ordinance should be undertaken through <br /> due process of law which guarantees individuals the right to <br /> and fair adjudication of their rights; and, <br /> 8 . The ordinance should address the problems of environmental <br /> degradation brought about by proliferation of high <br /> maintenance mono-cultural landscapes, and the indiscriminate <br /> use of toxic chemicals in landscape management. It should <br /> encourage the preservation and restoration of diverse, <br /> biologically stable natural plant communities, and <br /> environmentally sound practices. This would reduce not only <br /> contaminents to the environment such as pesticides, <br /> fertilizers, pollutants and noise, but would help reduce the. <br /> accumulation of yard waste which may not be disposed of in <br /> landfills pursuant to state law. <br /> Bret A. Rappaport <br /> SCHWARTZ COOPER KOLB & GAYNOR <br /> Two First National Plaza <br /> 20 South Clark Street <br /> Chicago, Illinois 60602 <br /> :(312)726-0845 <br />