October 2015

Creating a new boulevard ordinance ‘should’ be a cakewalk

l3wis October 29, 2015 1Comments

As the council is set to debate changing the boulevard planting ordinance, I suspect they will make it more complicated than it needs to be. There is already talk that a ‘task force’ may have to be created to hammer out the details.

God help us. Remember the ‘Animal Farm’ like drama that took place over chickens in the city? I know, I am trying to forget also (BTW, Rabbits can be pets or food, but I wouldn’t eat their eggs, unless they are Cadbury).

I have told a couple of councilors and citizens in support of the ordinance change that it is really quite simple.

1. Revoke the current ordinance of only grass.
2. Allow flowers, plants, shrubs, rocks, brick mailboxes, paver stones and other forms of landscaping in boulevard (of course some of this will have to be defined, such as the minimum and maximum size of rocks).
3. Don’t make utility companies or city’s public works department liable for damaged plants/landscaping if they have to dig up the boulevard (adjacent property owners responsibility) as long as fair notice is given if it is NOT an emergency.
4. A setback from fire hydrants (this will also have to be defined)
5. A height requirement on shrubs, flowers and plants (this will also have to be defined)

Other than that, I think a workable ordinance could be hammered out in a matter of a couple of hours, but let’s also remember, some people don’t eat rabbits, they just pet them.